The American Association of Orthodontists recommends that children be evaluated at age 7 by an orthodontist. Since most children are just getting their first adult teeth at this age, Parents are often uncertain as to why this is the right time to have their child evaluated for orthodontic treatment.

Orthodontic specialists not only treat the alignment of teeth but also the way that a patients's jaws meet when they open and close their mouth or when they chew. This function requires that they consider not only the teeth, but the way in which the jaws line up and muscles and ligaments that make up the jaw. Straightening teeth when jaws don't line up is kind of like building a house on an uneven foundation - it's possible but requires more work, possible compromises and ultimately may require more long term maintenance.

At age 7, Orthodontists are able evaluate several aspects of a child's development such as the alignment of the jaws and how the adult teeth are coming in. At this age they can apply therapies that are less invasive since the patient is still growing. Once the patient grows to an age where bones such as the jaws are fully developed, then treatments options are significantly limited and more invasive treatments such as surgery are required to correct misalignments.

Many patients who are evaluated at age 7 may be developing normally and not require active treatment at that time. For these patients Orthodontists will develop a recall schedule to monitor their development until most of the adult teeth have erupted and they can begin braces treatment. For patients that require intervention to help development of the jaws to support the function of straight teeth, early evaluation and management is key to reducing the extent of treatment needed and quality of the treatment result.