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When Should My Child First See The Orthodontist?

Home » Orthodontics » When Should My Child First See The Orthodontist?

Did you know the American Association of Orthodontists recommends that your child see an orthodontist for an evaluation by age 7? This is when your child’s smile has a mix of baby teeth and permanent teeth and it’s a good time to formulate a plan for your child’s best smile. Farina Orthodontic Specialists offers a free consultation for early planning – give us a call to set up the appointment.

What Does The First Visit Entail?

During this first visit to the orthodontist, your doctor will first take a look at the teeth with a visual examination. They will then take a digital scan to determine the underlying jaw position using the iCat scanner. Using iCat is a great, non-invasive way to render 2D and 3D images of your child’s mouth composition. The iCat scanner takes only eight seconds to collect enough data for your doctor to give an informed diagnosis and treatment plan. You will be able to look at these panoramic and cephalometric X-rays along with your doctor on a computer screen, so you stay fully informed on what kind of treatment is needed for your child. You will then have time to speak with a treatment coordinator about how to move forward with treatment if it is needed. 

Are My Child’s Orthodontic Needs Necessary or Purely Cosmetic?

Usually, when people think of orthodontics they think of perfectly straight teeth and a glowing smile. While orthodontic intervention does leave you with a beautiful smile, most of our objectives are to prevent health issues associated with chewing and breathing. After the first visit to the orthodontist, you will see that there is usually a functional need for early treatment. Being proactive with your child’s orthodontic care can prevent health problems such as TMJ, bone erosion, jaw pain, and more. Having the forethought to address these issues early on can save tons of time and money in the long run.

How Can I Tell If My Child Needs Braces?

There are a few telltale signs that your child will need braces or other orthodontic devices. The most common issue is bite misalignment, or how the top and bottom jaw fit together. This includes overbites, underbites, and crossbites. Other reasons are if your child has difficulty chewing or breathing. This may be a sign that their teeth are overcrowded, or that their palate is too small to accommodate all the new teeth that are erupting. The best way to determine if your child needs orthodontic care is simply to come into the office and speak with a doctor. You will gain much more insight into phase 1 treatment and have the opportunity to get all your questions answered.

What Kind of Orthodontic Care Might Be Recommended for My Child?

Most phase 1 treatment is designed to prepare your child’s mouth for success later on in life. It is better to start treatment early while your child still has a mixture of baby teeth and adult teeth because their bones are still developing, making it easier to move the teeth and jaw. If your child’s teeth are overcrowded, your orthodontist will recommend an expander to make room for new teeth to come in safely. The expander will gently push the two halves of the palate apart, and new bone will grow to fill in the gap. An expander also helps to open the airway because as the palate is expanded, it allows the nasal passage to open up and facilitate breathing through the nose. Expanders are sometimes accompanied by limited braces on selected teeth.

Some children will need what we call habit appliances. These appliances are designed to eliminate bad habits such as thumb sucking or tongue thrusting which over time can push teeth in the wrong direction and lead to health issues. For children who already have most of their permanent teeth erupted, a full set of braces may be recommended as well. 

We may offer Invisalign as a treatment option as well. These clear, plastic aligners work to address many of the same issues that braces treat without having to make as many lifestyle changes. Invisalign is great for kids because the aligners are more comfortable than braces, and your child may continue to eat what they’d like.

What If My Child Does Not Need Early Orthodontic Treatment?

If you come in for a preliminary consultation and your child does not need any treatment, we will continue to monitor their growth patterns every six months until they are ready for treatment. There is no penalty for being “too early” for orthodontic treatment, so do not stress too much about the treatment timeline. We will guide you through this process to make sure orthodontic intervention is taken at the right time. 

Does My Dentist Need to Refer Me to an Orthodontist?

You do not need a referral from your dentist to visit the orthodontist. An orthodontist can see both children and adults without any materials from a dentist’s office. And at Farina Orthodontic Specialists, your initial orthodontic consultation is free! 

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If you would prefer an in-person consultation, please fill out the form below. A member of our team will follow up with you to schedule. We can't wait to meet you!

WESLEY CHAPEL

2370 Bruce B Downs Blvd Suite 100
Wesley Chapel, FL 33544

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TAMPA PALMS

15303 Amberly Dr Suite E
New Tampa, FL 33647

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SOUTH TAMPA

2615 W Swann Ave Suite B
South Tampa, FL 33609

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What Our Patients Are Saying

jessica P.
Dr Farina did my braces as well as my sons and every appointment has been amazing! Highly recommend!
Jonathan B.
I’ve been going here for my whole life. Great place with great people. Dr Farina is a kind and caring guy. Amazing experience
Response from the owner:Thank you so much for the wonderful feedback, Jonathan - it has been our pleasure!
Delores K.
I am so very Happy with my Invisalign results!! Dr Farina and his team have been absolutely amazing!! They have been there for me every step of the way. Dr Farina and his team are at the top of their game and I highly recommend them to anyone seeking a better smile😃
Response from the owner:We've loved having you as part of the Farina family, Delores, and are so pleased that you love your new smile! Thank you for the fantastic feedback.
Penny H.
Love-love this place! From the front office to the exam room and the final finish with Dr.Davis was a blessing! Dr. Davis and the staff were amazing at all times with my daughter. She rocked her treatment with the Invisalign and finished today. We are so happy and pleased with the outcome! Thank you!
Response from the owner:Thank you for this glowing review, Penny! We appreciate your trust in our team and are so pleased that your daughter loves her new smile!
G D.
We had a great experience with Dr. Franco throughout my son’s orthodontic treatment. Caring and amazing staff, his treatment plan went as explained and his teeth turned out beautifully aligned.
Response from the owner:We couldn't be happier that you love your son's new smile! We will pass the feedback on to Dr. Franco and our team.
Eloá R.
My treatment was amazing and i couldn’t have chosen a better place. They are extreme understanding and seem to truly care about your treatment. Dr Davis was amazing
Response from the owner:We appreciate your wonderful feedback, Eloa!
Reggie D.
Dr Farina’s and his staff are the most competent, capable and caring team assembled. The facility is beautiful and state of the art. Dr Farina has served me and my entire family over a 25 year period. I highly recommend Dr Farina’s!
Response from the owner:Reggie, your feedback is priceless! Thank you for trusting our team with your family's smiles through the years.
Angelica Melecio P.
Farina Orthodontics was excellent throughout my Invisalign and jaw surgery process. They were patient and did excellent work and I couldn’t recommend them more.
Response from the owner:We appreciate the great review, Angelica, and we are honored that you chose us to partner with you on your smile journey. Thank you for trusting us!
Nina F.
I 100% recommend this place. It took me a year and 5 months to see the result of my Invisalign treatment, with the best results ever, my smile looks gorgeous and aligned. Franco and his staff worked with me very closely, listening to all my needs, with great motivation to never give up, (which probably everyone wants), be consistent to get the gold is the key. I love it! Thank you for your excellent and professional work
Response from the owner:We're so glad you've had a fantastic experience with us, Nina! Congratulations on your new smile!
Farah F.
I’ve had a fantastic experience with Dr. Davis and the entire team at Farina Orthodontic Specialists. Everyone is friendly, professional, and truly dedicated to patient care. From my initial consultation to each follow-up visit, the process has been smooth, clearly explained, and personalized to fit my needs. The office is clean, modern, and welcoming, and appointments always run on time. I highly recommend Dr. Davis and the team to anyone looking for quality orthodontic care! -Farahbod (Farah)
Response from the owner:We appreciate your wonderful feedback, and we'll be sure Dr. Davis and our team knows how pleased you were throughout your treatment. Thank you for trusting us with your smile!
Marlene L.
Today was my last appointment wearing braces! Dr. Franco & his staff have been amazing! During my 22 months with braces I’ve never had any problems with them. I’m in love with my new smile, thank youu so much!
Response from the owner:We are thrilled that you've had a WOW experience with us, Marlene! Congratulations on your beautiful new smile.
Jennifer C.
We love Farina Orthodontics! We had Invisalign’s for my first daughter and regular braces for my second, both turned out Amazing!! Dr.Davis and Sabrina are the best!
Response from the owner:We are so pleased that you've had a great experience with both of your girls' treatment, Jennifer! Dr. Davis and Sabrina are wonderful and we will always work to create a treatment plan that works best for each patient.
Tim M.
Dr Farina and staff are amazing to work with!! Patient service and care is top notch. Highly recommend! Our girls now have beautiful smiles thanks to them:)
Response from the owner:We are so happy you and the girls love their smiles, Tim! Thank you for the fantastic feedback.
Jayda G.
It has been a journey, and it took longer then expected. However, we continued to trust the process and are super happy with the results. Farina Orthodontics and their staff have been wonderful at every visit and throughout the process. Highly recommend!!
Response from the owner:We love seeing your new smile, Jayda! Thank you for trusting us with your treatment - congratulations!
Joanna L.
Pedro, Dr. Farina and the whole staff is amazing. Not only did they take their time to make sure my smile came out exactly how I wanted, but they educated me along the way. I am super happy with how everything turned out. I would highly recommend them!
Response from the owner:We appreciate your wonderful feedback so much, Joanne! Thank you for allowing us to partner with you on your smile journey.

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