When should a child first visit an orthodontist ?. This is a question which I am commonly asked .
I think the most useful answer to this question is provided by the Australian Society Of orthodontists , they recommend that; “If you think you have an orthodontic problem the best time to see an orthodontist is now !”
The Orthodontic Society of Ireland recommends that a child should have an assessment around 7 or 8 years Link to OSI
The American Association of Orthodontists recommends that a child should be seen “no later than 7 years”.
It is important to understand that only in a small percentage of children will orthodontic treatment be commenced at age 7 or 8 years , and this is only when certain orthodontic problems exist which are best treated at this age . As a simple rule of thumb treatment is commenced at this age if it will eliminate the need for further treatment later on , or make the subsequent treatment easier .
Though often it is obvious that orthodontic problems are present or developing at this age 7-8 years , their treatment is often postponed until the child is older 9-12 years. As otherwise unnecessary multiple courses of treatment , or excessively protracted courses of treatment may arise which may not confer any benefit on the patient, over one single course of treatment performed when the child is 9-12 years.
The important point is that you should seek the appropriate advice early rather than too late.
This orthodontic blog was written by Dr John Buckley who is a specialist orthodontist at Clonmel Orthodontics in Riverhouse orthodontic practice in Clonmel county Tipperary, Ireland. They provide orthodontics to County Tipperary and the neighbouring counties of Waterford, kilkenny, Limerick and Cork , and beyond.
Dr Buckley has practised as a specialist orthodontist in Clonmel for 20 years. In addition to his orthodontic qualifications which he held before he commenced orthodontic practice , Dr Buckley was awarded a First class masters degree in Lingual orthodontics from the University of Hannover medical school (MHH) in 2012. This masters degree is directed by Professor Dirk Wiechmann who is the inventor of both the incognito™ and win™ lingual appliances. Dr Buckley was the first orthodontist in Ireland to be awarded this qualification. In 2016 he was accepted as an active member of the European Society Of Lingual Orthodontics (ESLO). To become an active member it is necessary for candidates to submit the records of finished lingual cases. If the cases are deemed to be of a sufficiently high standard then the candidate is accepted as an active member of ESLO. Dr Buckley is the first orthodontist in Ireland to be accepted as an active member of ESLO.