{"id":294,"date":"2025-11-05T21:51:31","date_gmt":"2025-11-05T21:51:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.kids-dentistry.com\/blog\/?p=294"},"modified":"2025-11-14T21:53:40","modified_gmt":"2025-11-14T21:53:40","slug":"signs-your-child-might-be-due-for-an-orthodontic-evaluation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.kids-dentistry.com\/blog\/2025\/11\/05\/signs-your-child-might-be-due-for-an-orthodontic-evaluation\/","title":{"rendered":"4 Signs Your Child Might Be Due for an Orthodontic Evaluation & Braces"},"content":{"rendered":"
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As a parent, something that\u2019s probably constantly on your mind is how you can make sure your child\u2019s dental health is in great shape, and orthodontics<\/a> plays a role in this! Although it\u2019s not always obvious when orthodontic treatment may be needed. But by understanding when it\u2019s necessary and helping your child kick off their journey, you\u2019re setting them up for a lifetime of benefits. Here are some signs your child is due for orthodontic evaluation\u2014and maybe braces soon after.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

1. They Have Obviously Crowded Teeth<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Crowding is one of the most common reasons that children end up needing braces, so if you notice your child\u2019s teeth overlap, twist, protrude, or don\u2019t have enough room to come in properly, orthodontic treatment may be needed to guide them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Eating and Speaking Clearly Is Challenging<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If your child avoids certain foods, has trouble biting into snacks, or complains about discomfort while chewing, it might point to an underlying issue with their bite\u2019s alignment. Similarly, if pronouncing certain words or making certain sounds is difficult or impossible, it could be related to the teeth and their position.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. Noticeable Gaps Between the Teeth<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Spacing issues, whether from missing teeth, smaller-than-normal teeth, or natural gaps, can sometimes interfere with bite development or cause shifting. If your child has wide gaps in their smile, it\u2019s worth having their orthodontist take a look, as the issue can easily be helped with braces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4. Mouth Breathing or Thumb Sucking<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Habits like prolonged thumb sucking or regular mouth breathing can sometimes affect jaw growth and tooth positioning, leading to bite problems. Bruxism, also called teeth grinding, can sometimes have a similar negative impact.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The American Association of Orthodontists recommends that children receive an evaluation by age 7. During this visit, they\u2019ll examine their teeth and jaw alignment to recommend treatment options based on their findings. Remember, ensuring that your child receives the orthodontic treatment they need helps to guarantee they grow into a happy and functional smile.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

About the Practice<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Under the leadership of Dr. Christina Helfrich, Dr. Moe Beydoun, and Dr. Hyun Jeong Lee,<\/a> our team proudly serves the needs of families in New Britain and the surrounding area. We offer a variety of pediatric dental and orthodontic services for children of all ages. If you have any questions about the blog or need to schedule an appointment, please reach out online<\/a> or by phone for assistance. Telephone: (860) 224-2419.<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

As a parent, something that\u2019s probably constantly on your mind is how you can make sure your child\u2019s dental health is in great shape, and orthodontics plays a role in this! Although it\u2019s not always obvious when orthodontic treatment may be needed. But by understanding when it\u2019s necessary and helping your child kick off their […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.kids-dentistry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/294"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.kids-dentistry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.kids-dentistry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.kids-dentistry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.kids-dentistry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=294"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.kids-dentistry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/294\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":296,"href":"https:\/\/www.kids-dentistry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/294\/revisions\/296"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.kids-dentistry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=294"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.kids-dentistry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=294"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.kids-dentistry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=294"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}