A regular dental cleaning and checkup with your dentist is a good place to start if you think you or your child may need orthodontic treatment.
These appointments give your dentist a chance to check your alignment and look for potential orthodontic problems like:
Overcrowding. If a tooth is twisted in its socket or you’re having a hard time flossing between a section of teeth, your teeth may be overcrowded.
Overbites. Overbites occur when the top teeth rest far in front of the bottom teeth.
Underbites. Underbites are hallmarked by the bottom tooth line resting in front of the top row of teeth in the mouth.
Open bites. These are identified by a gap between the top and bottom of teeth rows when the mouth is fully closed.
Depending on the findings, your dentist may be able to offer certain types of treatment from their office–like clear aligners–or they may refer you to an orthodontic specialist for a consultation.
If you are referred for a consultation with an orthodontist, they will take more detailed images of your teeth and jaws to determine if and when you may need orthodontic treatment.
Orthodontists typically treat any alignment abnormalities during a person’s developmental years, usually between 13-20 years of age. Although this age range is the ideal time frame to receive orthodontic treatment–primarily because of the malleability of the facial structure–there are some factors that could delay treatment, such as an accident, poor dental health, or the lack of access to adequate dental care. However, nearly anyone of any age can receive orthodontic treatment, including adults.