Whether it’s the doctor or the dentist, very few people are excited about a medical visit. It’s even more daunting when it’s a visit to the orthodontist when you consider things like extractions and years of having to wear braces.
That said, it’s pretty important to ensure you meet an orthodontist at the correct time. But when is the actual right time to get in touch with your orthodontic specialist? In today’s article, we’ll explore when the best time to schedule an appointment with your orthodontist is.
Who is an orthodontist?
An orthodontist is a kind of dental specialist whose field of work is to bring the teeth and jaws into their ideal position for optimal dental and oral health. It is an extremely common practice for young children and pre-teens to visit orthodontists to have their teeth checked for proper alignment and corrections.
Children and adults can or may have to visit the orthodontist at any time, but it’s the elementary years that are considered as the most feasible time for early orthodontic intervention.
When should I schedule a visit with an orthodontist?
The answer to this isn’t actually as straightforward as you might think. To put it simply, you should ring up your orthodontist any time you feel your teeth are not aligned the way they should be or that they are moving around in a way that they are not supposed to.
For instance, you may have noticed that you’re struggling to bite, chew or talk. You may also feel as if some of your teeth are sticking out more than usual or have become too crowded in your mouth. You might have seen your tooth move from where it originally was. These are clear and obvious signs that you need to visit an orthodontist soon.
Sometimes the signs are not always as clear-cut. If you’re breathing through your mouth, grinding your teeth (especially in your sleep), finding it hard to close your lips over your teeth or clenching your jaw way more than you’re used to, then you should visit a Las Vegas orthodontics specialist. The same applies to sounds from your jaw when it moves, shifts in the structure of your jaw, biting of your cheek, or roof of your mouth.
When should I schedule a visit with an orthodontist for my child?
The American Academy of Orthodontists recommends that you set up an orthodontic examination for your child by the time they are 7. There are two reasons they suggest this.
Firstly, many dental problems are easier to treat if they’re caught early. Secondly, there’s a lot of tooth development happening around this age! It takes the eye of an expertly trained professional to tell whether your child has an actual orthodontic problem or whether it’s just a part of their normal dental development.
What happens if I delay visiting an orthodontist?
The range of effects of delaying or not visiting an orthodontist naturally depends on the severity of your dental issue. For some people, it might be purely cosmetic. Teeth that don’t meet normally cause facial imbalances and might make you feel conscious of how you look.If you’re shy about your smile because you don’t think your teeth are as well-aligned as they could be, then you might benefit from a visit to a Las Vegas orthodontics specialist.
However, if you have more severe issues like difficulty breathing, speaking or chewing, then procrastinating a visit to an orthodontist might end up making your dental problems far worse than they were to start with.
Conclusion
While there is no specific right time to meet your orthodontist, you should get your teeth checked regularly. Even a normal dentist will be able to check if you have a dental issue that needs orthodontic treatment and will probably guide you to a specialist as well.
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