Give Your Child A Lifetime Of Smiles

Bringing your child in to Backus Orthodontics for orthodontic examinations and care at a young age is the best way to ensure them a lifetime of healthy teeth and aligned smiles.

Benefits of Early Evaluation

Your child needs teeth and jaws that are properly aligned to have a smile that's long-lasting and healthy – in other words, a good bite. The earlier we catch problems with your child’s bite, the simpler they are to fix.

The results are often better than if we wait and require less work. We may not need to keep braces on your child for as long when they are younger, which means less expense for you.

While there is no exact age that all children should begin orthodontic treatment, Dr. Jeff Backus and the American Association of Orthodontists recommend that your child should visit the orthodontist around age seven.

We may not have to do anything at this age, other than monitor the child’s mouth. However, if we continue to watch your child, we can start treatment right away!

You may wonder why the AAO emphasizes age seven. At that age, the first adult molars are coming in and helping establish the back bite.

We can then evaluate your child’s bite, both front-to-back and side-to-side. There are many reasons to start treatment early.

This check-up may reveal that your child's bite is fine and braces aren't necessary. In some cases, Dr. Jeff Backus may identify a developing problem, but recommend monitoring your child's growth and development.

Then, when indicated, begin treatment at the appropriate time for your child at Backus Orthodontics. In other cases, Dr. Jeff Backus might find a problem that can benefit from early treatment.

What Is Early Treatment?

Early treatment at Backus Orthodontics may prevent or intercept more serious problems from developing and may make treatment at a later age shorter, simpler, and less expensive.

In some cases, Dr. Jeff Backus will be able to achieve results that would be much more difficult to achieve if the face and jaws finish growing.

Early intervention can be beneficial. We will watch how your child’s mouth and teeth grow and develop, so if we see something that needs to be done, we will do it. We will also know exactly when to start treatment if needed.

When Is the Best Time for Orthodontic Treatment?

While the age that kids get braces may vary, orthodontic treatment at Backus Orthodontics most often begins between the ages of 9 and 14. Some orthodontic problems are easier to correct if Dr. Jeff Backus treats your child early.

If Dr. Jeff Backus thinks your child will need treatment, he’ll let you know when it will be best to begin treatment, and this gives him the best time to:

  • Correct and guide the growth of your child's jaw to help the permanent teeth come in straight
  • Regulate the width of the upper and lower arches
  • Create more space for crowded teeth
  • Avoid the need for permanent tooth extractions later in life
  • Correct thumb sucking and help improve minor speech problems
Orthodontics Hoover AL

Signs the Bite's Not Right

For Hoover parents, it's not always easy to know if your child may need orthodontic treatment. Even teeth that look straight may be hiding a deeper problem with their bite.

Here are a few clues that may indicate the need for orthodontic attention at Backus Orthodontics:

  • Early or late loss of baby teeth
  • A hard time chewing or biting food
  • Mouth breathing
  • Finger or thumb sucking
  • Crowded, misplaced, or blocked teeth
  • Jaws that pop or make sounds when opening and closing
  • Teeth that come together abnormally, or do not come together at all
  • Jaws and teeth that are not proportionate to the rest of the face
  • Crowded front teeth around age seven or eight

Learn More at Your Free Consultation

Please contact our Hoover office at (205) 987-0040 to schedule a free appointment for an orthodontic evaluation.

Early treatment at Backus Orthodontics now will help your child enjoy healthy, beautiful smiles in the future.