Guiding Growth Early—for Healthier Future Smiles
Early orthodontic interceptive care focuses on guiding jaw growth, bite development, and oral habits while children are still growing. By evaluating smiles at the right time—often before all adult teeth are in—we can identify potential concerns early and gently guide development in a healthier direction. This proactive approach can reduce the need for more complex treatment later, setting the foundation for balanced growth, easier orthodontic care, and confident smiles down the road.
Why Age 7 for an Orthodontic Screening?
By around age seven, most children have a mix of baby teeth and permanent teeth, which gives an orthodontist a surprisingly clear preview of how the smile—and the jaws—are developing. At this stage, we can evaluate jaw growth, bite alignment, spacing, crowding, and the way permanent teeth are starting to come in, all while the bones are still highly adaptable.
Organizations like the American Association of Orthodontists recommend this timing because early screening doesn’t always mean early treatment—but it does mean early insight. In many cases, we simply monitor growth over time. In others, gentle interceptive care can guide development, reduce the severity of future issues, and sometimes even shorten or simplify later orthodontic treatment.
The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry also emphasizes early evaluation of developing teeth and jaws as part of supporting long-term oral health. Think of an age-7 orthodontic check as a roadmap, not a construction project—it helps us plan smarter, act only when needed, and support healthy growth at the right moment.
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The ‘Hohl’ Kingdom Club - Where Growing Smiles RULE!
The Hohl Kingdom Club is our way of celebrating kids who are growing, learning, and getting ready for their future smiles. Designed for patients who aren’t quite ready for orthodontic treatment yet, the club turns checkups into something exciting—with milestones, encouragement, and a little royal flair along the way.
As kids grow and progress, they move through the Kingdom, feeling included, confident, and proud of every step forward. Because in our Kingdom, every kid is already royalty—we’re happy to help their smile grow into it.