Growth and Guidance

The American Association of Orthodontists recommends that all children be screened by an AAO orthodontist at age 7. By age 7, your child has enough permanent teeth that an orthodontist can spot a problem before it becomes a bigger problem. In addition to an intraoral exam, orthodontists use panoramic x-rays  to check below the surface to look for extra teeth, missing teeth or impacted teeth.

At Ochoa Orthodontics, the majority of our younger patients do not need Early Treatment. Our goal is to monitor our patients’ growth and development and intercept any potential problems before they occur.  During your initial visit, we will take photos and x-rays for our Doctors to evaluate, and introduce you and your family to our Doctors and staff.   If no treatment is recommended at that time, we will enroll your Child in our Growth and Guidance program called the “Pup Club,”  where we will see your child regularly at no charge to you until they are ready for orthodontic treatment.

Problems that may lead to Early Treatment

• Underbites – when the lower front teeth are ahead of the upper front teeth
• Crossbites – when the upper teeth are inside of the lowers
• Functional shift – when the jaw shifts to one side as the teeth come together
• Severely crowded teeth
• Excessively spaced teeth
• Extra or missing teeth
• Teeth that meet abnormally or don’t meet at all
• Thumb-, finger- or pacifier- sucking that is affecting the teeth or jaw growth