Well here is a good info you didn’t know!

±There are nearly 4 million people in orthodontic treatment throughout the United States. Three out of four are younger than 18.

±The first recorded orthodontic-like method of treatment was performed by the Roman writer Celsus (25 B.C.-A.D. 50).

±The first mechanical treatment for correcting irregular teeth was suggested by Gaius Plinius Secundus (A.D 23-79).

±The first Society of Orthodontists met in St. Louis in 1901.

±The American Association of Orthodontists is comprised of more than 12,000 members in the United States, Canada and abroad.

±A child should first visit an orthodontist no later than the age of 7. Early intervention frequently makes the completion of treatment at a later age easier and less time-consuming.

±The time required to complete orthodontic treatment ranges from 12 to 36 months depending on the nature and severity of the problem.

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Although determining if treatment is necessary is difficult for you to assess, the following symptoms may help in prompting you to seek our orthodontic advice.

Ask your child to open their mouth, and let you look at their teeth. If you see any signs of crooked teeth, gaps between your child’s teeth or overlapping teeth, your child may need orthodontic treatment.

Ask your child to bite all the way down, but keeping their lips open so you can see their teeth. Do the front top teeth line up with the bottom? Do the top teeth protrude out away from the bottom teeth? Do the top front teeth cover more than 50% of the bottom teeth? Are the top teeth behind the bottom teeth? All these are indicators for potential orthodontic treatment.

Look at the alignment of your child’s jaw. Does the jaw shift off center when your child bites down? If you see any misalignment or shifting of the jaw, your child may have a skeletal problem, which requires early orthodontic intervention.