From ages 6-11, children are developing physically, mentally and emotionally. Part of this development is their smile. During the elementary school years, your child will begin to lose their baby teeth and receive their permanent, adult teeth and smile. Our team at Georgia Orthodontics & Children’s Dentistry in Lawrenceville is here to help you care for that developing smile. We know how important it is for a child’s self-confidence and overall wellness to have healthy, attractive teeth. We have a pediatric dentist and an orthodontist, all under one roof to care for your child’s teeth during these critical dental development years.
Children from ages 6-11 should be seeing a pediatric dentist every six months for checkups. In between visits, they need to be performing daily oral care at home. Parents should be monitoring brushing and flossing to ensure children are correctly cleaning their teeth daily. Our team will help teach kids how to brush and floss and what to expect when their baby teeth begin to loosen, but parents will be the ones to help them on a day-to-day basis. The first baby teeth usually begin to fall out by age six, and the new permanent molars begin to emerge. It is especially important during this developmental time to come in for checkups. Dr. Chong will monitor tooth health and development through exams and x-rays. It is usually recommended that new permanent molars be protected from decay with sealants.
Dental Care for Elementary School Children – First Orthodontic Visit at Age 7
Orthodontic monitoring and care should start early to ensure permanent teeth are developing and emerging in alignment. By age seven, the American Association of Orthodontists recommends that kids have their first orthodontic exam. Our orthodontist, Dr. Patel, can perform this vital checkup for your child. He can work with you and Dr. Chong to determine the best plan to care for your child’s smile, all at one location. If your child does need orthodontic treatment in elementary school or later as an adolescent or teen, he or she can have both dental and orthodontic care performed right here at Georgia Orthodontics & Children’s Dentistry in Lawrenceville. We make it easy and convenient to care for your child’s smile and help it develop beautifully as they grow.