Children

Orthodontist for Children in Stafford, VA - Pediatric Orthodontist

The American Association of Orthodontists recommends children have an orthodontic evaluation by age 7 to get ahead of common orthodontic problems.

Starting orthodontic treatment early is the best way to ensure your child develops a healthy and beautiful smile. By age 7, your child has enough permanent teeth for a skilled orthodontist to diagnose even a subtle concern that, left untreated, could require more invasive procedures down the road.

What orthodontic issues might my child have?

Children’s orthodontic problems include crowding of or too much space between the teeth, jaw-growth problems, protruding teeth, and bad bites. Children often inherit orthodontic issues, suffer a mouth injury, experience early or late loss of baby teeth, or create poorly aligned teeth from thumb-sucking. The good news is that children’s jaws are still developing and respond faster than adults to orthodontic intervention—and we’re here to help.

What happens at my child’s first appointment?

To offer personalized care, Dr. Lupi begins the appointment with an open conversation about your worries and observations of your child’s teeth. Next he does a painless visual examination of your child’s teeth and bite. We may also take x-rays to get deeper insights about your child’s teeth and jaw development. From there, Dr. Lupi will make recommendations for next steps, whether it’s immediate treatment, a keep-our-eye-on-it situation, or no treatment needed.