Why Early Orthodontic Evaluations Matter: What Parents Should Know by Age 7

November 8, 2025|mainstreetsmiles|
Early orthodontic evaluations matter.

As parents, we have so many things to consider when it comes to our kids. Helping them prepare to start school. Making sure they know how to behave with others so they can make friends. And, of course, one of the most important things is making sure they are healthy in mind, body, and soul.

This means annual trips to the doctor for their overall health, and trips to the dentist every six months to keep those developing smiles happy and bright. But many patients often ask us about crooked teeth and treatment options. And that’s why we suggest early orthodontic evaluations around age seven.

In this article, we’ll explain why age seven is the magical age for that first orthodontic evaluation, what it entails, and why we might suggest treatment for crooked teeth in Barrington, IL.

Why This Ideal Age for an Early Orthodontic Evaluation

To understand why age seven is so important, it helps to know a little about how teeth erupt and how a child’s mouth develops. Around age six, most children begin losing their primary teeth (often called baby teeth). This natural process makes space for the permanent teeth that will start appearing around the same time. While every child is different, most follow a general pattern of baby tooth loss.

  • Lower Central Incisors (Bottom Front Teeth): Usually the first to fall out, between ages six and seven
  • Upper Central Incisors (Top Front Teeth): Follow closely behind, typically around age seven
  • Lateral Incisors (Next to the Front Teeth): Often lost between ages seven and eight

As permanent teeth begin to emerge, it’s not uncommon for them to come in crooked or crowded. This can happen for a few reasons.

  • The jaw is still growing and may not have enough space for all incoming teeth.
  • Baby teeth may fall out too early or too late.
  • Habits such as thumb-sucking or tongue thrusting can shift tooth positioning.
  • Genetics play a role in how teeth and jaws develop.

At this age, a dentist can identify early signs of crowding or misalignment and determine if gentle guidance could help improve jaw growth and spacing. Because a child’s jaw is still developing, interceptive orthodontic care at this stage can help guide permanent teeth into better positions, often making future treatment easier and more comfortable.

What Dentists Look for During an Evaluation

This all makes sense, right? As kids begin to lose teeth and those new teeth come in, your dentist wants to make sure those permanent teeth come in as straight as possible. Why? Because when teeth come in crooked, it can create other oral health issues down the road.

So, let’s take a look at just what your child’s dentist is looking for during that early orthodontic evaluation.

  • Crowding or spacing issues that may affect how permanent teeth align as they erupt
  • Bite alignment problems such as overbite, underbite, crossbite, or open bite
  • Jaw growth patterns to see if the upper and lower jaws are developing proportionally
  • Early signs of impacted teeth that may need space to emerge correctly
  • Habits like thumb-sucking or tongue thrusting that can influence tooth and jaw positioning
  • Tooth eruption sequence to make sure baby teeth are being lost and replaced in the right order
  • Speech or chewing concerns that may stem from bite or alignment problems

Benefits of Interceptive Orthodontics

If your child’s dentist near Barrington notices any of the issues we mentioned above, we will likely suggest what we call interceptive orthodontics. Simply stated, this can include crooked teeth treatment to help make sure your child’s smile stays happy and healthy.

Typical interceptive orthodontic treatments include things like space maintainers, palatal expanders, and, for some kids, even braces. And the benefits of having your child receive this treatment at a young age, instead of waiting until their teenage years, can pay off in a big way.

Here are some of the benefits that come with an early orthodontic evaluation at Main Street Smiles.

  • Guides jaw growth to create the right amount of space for incoming permanent teeth
  • Reduces the need for extractions later by addressing crowding early
  • Improves bite alignment to support proper chewing and speech development
  • Helps correct harmful habits like thumb-sucking or tongue thrusting
  • Shortens or simplifies future orthodontic treatment during the teen years
  • Supports a balanced facial appearance by guiding natural jaw and tooth development
  • Promotes long-term oral health by making it easier to clean and care for straight teeth

Schedule your child’s early orthodontic evaluation with Main Street Smiles in Barrington, IL.

If your child is seven or approaching their seventh birthday, it’s time to get an early orthodontic evaluation on the calendar. At Main Street Smiles, we look forward to helping your child achieve a lifetime of healthy teeth and a beautiful smile. Schedule their appointment today.

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