Sometimes the question comes from your child: why do my teeth look like this? For kids travelling from Rockwood, an early orthodontic assessment explains, in words they can follow, how their adult teeth are arriving and whether anything needs watching, recording or a specialist’s view.
Around the early school years, adult front teeth can look oversized, gappy or slightly crooked next to the baby teeth still in place. Children notice, and a comment from a classmate can turn it into a worry. Often what they are seeing is a normal stage, but it deserves a proper answer.
When a child from Rockwood comes in, we talk to them as well as to you. The dentist explains which teeth are new and which will still fall out, checks how much space is left and watches how the teeth come together. Then we describe what is ordinary for this age and what we would like to keep an eye on.
Coming in does not mean your child is about to get braces. Some findings are worth catching while they grow, and many settle or become clearer later. You and your child should both come away understanding why we suggest a particular timing and what the next visit will check.
Neither of you needs to name an orthodontic problem. Between your observations, the examination and records only where findings warrant them, the dentist can sort what simply needs time from what deserves a closer look.
New adult teeth often look large at first. Still, mention any that are emerging in an unusual spot or a side that looks different. The dentist weighs the space available, the baby teeth still to be lost and the order teeth are arriving before drawing conclusions.
Children sometimes say their teeth feel wrong when they bite, or that one side touches first. Note any jaw shift on closing or difficulty with certain foods. The clinician can then judge whether the cause lies with the teeth, the jaw or something else.
A thumb that still finds its way into the mouth, an old tumble that hit the teeth and baby teeth lost earlier than usual can each affect development. Share any of these. If you are concerned about snoring or breathing at night, mention that too, since a doctor may also need to look into it.
Toothache, swelling or a recent injury needs a different appointment from an orthodontic review. Let us know about those when you call so we can book your child appropriately.
Orthodontists in Canada, through their national association, recommend that children be checked by a specialist by about age seven. The intent is to spot developing issues early. It does not mean that most children of that age need treatment. Ask us how a dental review fits with that specialist assessment.
Some children are helped by care during growth; for many others, watching and deciding later is wiser. We should tell you honestly how far a general dental review can go and at what point a specialist becomes the better person to ask. Appearance alone never tells anyone what a child’s full treatment path will look like.
Patient information: Canadian Association of Orthodontists — assessment and treatment questions
Showing a child which teeth are baby teeth and which are here to stay can ease a lot of worry. The dentist can point out what really matters and what usually changes by itself as the smile fills in.
If we suggest waiting, we will say what we are waiting to see, whether a particular tooth, the spacing or the bite. Knowing that goal helps your child see it as a check-in rather than a cause for concern.
If an orthodontist’s opinion would help, find out what we plan to send them and whether recent records will do. A specialist can go deeper into the diagnosis, the timing and the alternatives. Discuss it as a family before agreeing to any appliance.
Prepare your child by telling them we will look, count and ask them to bite. Their questions matter, even if they differ from yours.
We ask about health, previous dental treatment, injuries, habits and roughly when baby teeth came out. Your child can tell us what they have noticed too. Bring any earlier orthodontic advice or records if you have them.
Using a mirror and a light, the dentist counts teeth, looks at the gaps between them and sees how top and bottom line up. We will invite your child to bite down, open and close, and we describe what we are looking at in plain words.
Sometimes the examination leaves a question only an image can answer, like where a hidden tooth is waiting. That is when we would suggest an X-ray, and not before. You can always ask what it will tell us and whether the orthodontist would rather take their own.
We explain the findings and why one timing fits better than another. If referral is advised, find out who arranges it and what to do meanwhile. If monitoring, note the interval and any changes that should bring you back sooner.
An assessment rarely brings home an appliance to care for. Follow any specific advice, and keep the usual brushing routine and dental visits going while their teeth develop.
Note the date of the review or referral and its purpose. Should plans shift, phone us to move it instead of letting it slip. A tooth we are watching can only be followed if we see it again.
New molars and crowded areas are hard for young children to reach. Ask for tips, and keep helping in a way that suits their age. Taking good care of the teeth matters just as much as watching how they line up.
Let us know about chewing trouble, an unexpected lost tooth or anything you were asked to watch. Gently discourage your child from pushing teeth with fingers or tongue to straighten them, and avoid online kits. Moving teeth needs professional care.
These answers are a starting point. Your child’s own examination decides what applies to them.
Contact our Bronte Street practice to arrange a review. Let us know what you and your child have noticed and any earlier advice, and we will explain the findings in plain language and let you know whether an orthodontist’s opinion would help.
Coming in for a look is not signing up for treatment. What happens next depends on what we find.
