Whether you’re a first-time parent considering orthodontic treatment for your child or an adult wanting to finally cross “Perfect Smile” off their list of goals, you’ve got to know when the right time to book the first orthodontic appointment is. Fortunately, it’s not complicated to work out.
What Is Orthodontics?
Orthodontics is a dental specialty focused on aligning and straightening teeth to improve bite function and enhance overall dental health. Using various appliances like metal braces, clear braces, clear aligners, palatal expanders, retainers, and more, orthodontists gently guide teeth into their optimal positions. This treatment can correct overcrowded, misaligned, or gapped teeth and address jaw alignment issues.
Orthodontic treatment is a great option for anyone with aesthetic or functional issues in Fort Collins or Windsor. We help build confident smiles and promote a healthier mouth for many in the area.
What Are the Benefits of Orthodontic Treatment?
Orthodontic care does more than create a smile you like seeing in the mirror. Straightening teeth changes how well your mouth works, not just how it looks.
- Improved oral hygiene: Straight teeth are easier to brush and floss, with fewer hard-to-reach places for food and plaque to hide. That makes cavities and gum disease less likely.
- Better bite alignment: Correcting an overbite, underbite, or crossbite reduces strain on teeth, jaws, and muscles, which lowers the risk of tooth wear and TMJ problems.
- Easier breathing: A narrow upper jaw or a misplaced lower jaw can make it hard to get enough air through your nose, leading to mouth breathing and contributing to sleep apnea.
- Clearer speech: Misaligned teeth or jaws can affect pronunciation, and orthodontic treatment often improves clarity.
- Better chewing: Teeth that meet properly break food down more thoroughly, which makes digestion easier.
- Fewer injuries: Protruding teeth are more vulnerable to damage from falls and sports, and orthodontics reduces that exposure.
- More confidence: People tend to feel more comfortable socially with a smile they’re proud of, at school, at work, and everywhere in between.
When Should Children Have Their First Orthodontic Appointment?
The American Association of Orthodontists recommends that all children should see an orthodontist at age seven. Though it sounds young, it isn’t. The mix of adult and baby teeth at that age lets orthodontists like Dr. Goings determine whether your child is at risk of developing alignment issues, or whether they have already begun to show signs of malocclusion. We use that information to plan the right time to begin treatment, whether that is now or several years out.
Most children don’t need to begin orthodontic treatment right away and can wait until they’re a little older. Still, it matters that all children get a smile assessment around this time. As they get older, untreated alignment problems can worsen, creating symptoms like mouth breathing, oral health complications, and discomfort. They also become harder to treat as the body slows development and begins settling in for adulthood. If your child needs early intervention, also known as phase one treatment, an assessment at age seven and professional monitoring as they grow is how you’ll find out.
If your child is already a teen, don’t worry. They can still come in for a first appointment and begin treatment if necessary.
Is It Too Late for Adults to Achieve Straight Teeth?
It’s never too late to straighten your teeth if you have healthy teeth and gums. Goings Orthodontics gladly accepts patients of all ages, including adults. You can be a first-time patient, or you can be seeking another round of orthodontic treatment to address teeth shifting after braces or aligners in your childhood or teen years. If you’re unhappy with your smile, we encourage you to come in for a consultation. Our Fort Collins orthodontist can help you love your reflection in the mirror, regardless of your age.
Do You Have to Wait for a Referral From a Dentist?
No. Orthodontists are specialists you can book with directly, so waiting on a referral only delays things. Plenty of dentists do spot alignment issues and mention them, and that’s useful, but a referral is not a requirement and no one needs to give you permission to schedule.
This matters more than it sounds. A dentist sees your child roughly twice a year and is watching for cavities and gum health first. Early alignment and jaw growth problems are not always obvious at a routine cleaning, which is exactly why the age seven guideline exists as its own separate recommendation.
The short version: bring children in around age seven, get teens evaluated as soon as you can if it hasn’t happened yet, and book whenever you’re ready if you’re an adult. If your dentist has already flagged something, bring their notes or x-rays along and we’ll work from those.
First Orthodontic Appointment FAQs
What happens at a first orthodontic appointment?
We examine your teeth and bite, take any images or scans we need, and talk through what we find. You’ll leave knowing whether treatment makes sense, and if so, roughly when it should start.
Does my child need to have all their adult teeth first?
No, and waiting for that is a common mistake. Age seven is the recommended time precisely because a mix of baby and adult teeth shows us how the bite is developing while there is still time to guide it.
Will my child need braces right after the first visit?
Usually not. Most children who come in at seven are simply monitored as they grow, and treatment starts later if and when it’s needed.
Is there an age limit for orthodontic treatment?
There isn’t. Teeth can be moved at any age as long as the teeth and gums underneath are healthy, which is why adult treatment has become so common.
Do I need a referral to book?
No. You can schedule directly with an orthodontist without going through your dentist first.
Book Your First Appointment
If your child is approaching seven, or you’ve been putting off treatment for yourself, the first step is just a conversation. Schedule a free consultation and we’ll tell you honestly whether now is the right time or whether waiting makes more sense.
