Your child is seven or eight, their first permanent teeth have started coming in, and a neighbor, a friend, or even the teacher has suggested "getting that checked" by an orthodontist. You hesitate: isn't that far too early? Aren't they just going to put braces on for no reason?
Here's why this first opinion, at this exact age, carries a meaning few parents actually know.
What happens during this first appointment
The orthodontist looks, they don't treat. They examine how the permanent teeth are coming in among the still-present baby teeth, observe how the two jaws meet, and assess whether there's enough room for the entire set of teeth to come. They also ask simple questions: does your child breathe through their mouth or their nose, do they still suck their thumb, have they already had a knock to their teeth.
A panoramic X-ray may be suggested if the orthodontist wants to visualize the position of permanent teeth still under the gum, not palpable or visible to the naked eye. This quick, low-dose exam helps spot a tooth with no path to come in, an extra tooth, or a missing permanent tooth.
In most cases, nothing is fitted. The orthodontist explains what they observe, reassures if everything is going the right way, and suggests seeing the child again in a year or two to follow progress. This is neither a failure nor wasted time: it's exactly the point of this appointment.
Why age seven to eight, specifically
At this age, the first permanent incisors and molars are generally in place or in the process of coming in, which already gives clues about how the whole set of teeth will organize itself. And above all, the jaws are still actively growing — which is what makes this period particular.
Certain corrections take advantage of this active growth in a way that becomes far harder once it's finished: widening an upper jaw that's too narrow, correcting a mismatch between the upper and lower jaw, guiding the space available for teeth still to come. Later, in adolescence or adulthood, the same goals may require longer, more complex treatment, sometimes combined with surgery.
What an orthodontist actually looks for
- an obvious lack of space for the permanent teeth about to arrive;
- a mismatch between the jaws (one too far forward or too far back relative to the other);
- an upper jaw that's too narrow, often associated with mouth breathing;
- a tooth that seems blocked, with no visible path of eruption on the X-ray;
- a persistent habit (thumb-sucking, pacifier, mouth breathing) likely to deform the arch over time;
- a baby tooth lost too early, which can let neighboring teeth shift and close the space needed for the permanent tooth.
And if everything is fine?
That's actually the most common outcome. If development is proceeding normally, the orthodontist will simply tell you so, and suggest seeing the child again later — often around age 10-11, once more permanent teeth are in place, or earlier only if there's a specific point to monitor. This spaced-out follow-up isn't a way to "sell" unnecessary appointments: it's how growth itself sets its own pace, and how certain problems only become visible at a later stage.
How to prepare for this first appointment
Reassure your child without making it a big deal. Present the appointment as a simple check-up, similar to a visit to the dentist: the orthodontist will look at their teeth, ask questions, and likely do nothing else that day. Avoiding the word "braces" beforehand, unless the orthodontist brings it up themselves, limits unnecessary apprehension.
Prepare useful information ahead of time: your child's dental history (knocks, teeth extracted early), current habits (thumb-sucking, mouth breathing at night, snoring), and family history of orthodontic treatment if you or the other parent wore braces — this information helps the orthodontist assess a possible hereditary component.
Don't hesitate to ask your own questions during the visit: exactly what the orthodontist observes, what would warrant earlier intervention, and how often follow-up check-ups are recommended. A good practitioner takes the time to explain their reasoning, not just their conclusion.
If a second opinion seems useful to you, particularly before treatment suggested earlier than you expected, that's a perfectly legitimate step to take, especially for a decision that involves several years of follow-up.
What the research says
Orthodontic professional societies, particularly in Europe and the United States, quite consistently recommend a first orthodontic opinion around age 7, without this necessarily implying treatment at that age. The stated goal of this recommendation is precisely to identify, while growth is still available as a lever, the situations that benefit most from early intervention — and conversely, to avoid unnecessarily treating too early situations that would have corrected themselves.
Wondering whether your child's teeth are coming in the way they should, without knowing if it's the right time to see someone? A first opinion lets you take stock, and in most cases, be reassured. Find an orthodontist near you on OlamKal and book an appointment.
In practice, in Israel
Part of children's dental follow-up is covered by the public system through health funds, and the scope of this coverage evolves regularly. Orthodontics itself falls largely under the private sector, with possible partial coverage from supplemental insurance depending on the plan. Check with your health fund before the appointment: terms vary significantly between plans.
To wrap up
A first orthodontic opinion around age 7-8 commits you to nothing, doesn't hurt, and, most of the time, ends with good news. What it offers is the chance to take advantage of a growth window that doesn't reopen — for the situations that truly need it — and peace of mind, for everyone else.
