When should my child have their first orthodontic evaluation?
By age seven, per the American Association of Orthodontists. At seven, the first permanent molars and incisors are usually in, which is enough to reveal crowding, crossbites, and jaw discrepancies, while enough growth remains that some of them can be guided rather than corrected the hard way later.
An evaluation at seven does not mean braces at seven. For most children the honest answer is that we watch and recheck at each cleaning.
We do these here as part of a regular visit at no additional charge, and we refer to an orthodontist when there is something to act on.
What is a space maintainer?
A small appliance that holds the gap open when a baby molar is lost early, so the neighboring teeth do not drift into the space the permanent tooth needs.
It is cemented in, your child will stop noticing it within a week, and it comes out when the permanent tooth is ready to come in.
Last reviewed November 2025 by Brightburrow clinical staff.