When Should My Child See an Orthodontist?

Family Sitting and Smiling Together

The AAO (American Association of Orthodontists) recommends that children first be seen by an orthodontist around the age of 7.  At this screening, the orthodontist will make sure no major problems are being overlooked and that all of the teeth are developing and erupting correctly.  The screening generally includes x-rays and pictures along with an oral evaluation.  Here at KCC Orthodontics we provide the screening completely complimentary.

What are some possible problematic situations the orthodontist looks for at an early age?

  • Premature loss of baby teeth – baby teeth are space maintainers for permanent teeth. Early loss of these space maintainers can lead to blocking out of permanent teeth, trapping them from erupting properly.
  • Not losing baby teeth in the correct order – the orthodontist can monitor this process and even direct the general dentist in removing baby teeth when absolutely necessary.
  • Cross bites/Under bites/Jaw alignment – this is when the lower teeth erupt on the outside or in front of the upper teeth. This is one problem that really should be addressed as early as possible due to possible incorrect growth of the bone during development, or excessive damage to teeth since they are contacting incorrectly.
  • Finger sucking habits – Sucking on thumbs or fingers can cause the teeth to come in at unwanted angles or even cause the bone to begin growing in an unhealthy shape. There are some simple tricks and appliances that can help break this harmful habit.
  • Severe crowding – the orthodontist can evaluate if your child absolutely needs some early braces to allow permanent teeth to be able to come in with adequate room, or many times the orthodontist can direct the dentist to extract certain teeth at appropriate times to allow all teeth to come in and not become stuck/impacted.

We look for all the above issues and more at your complimentary consultation with Dr. Gutierrez at KCC Orthodontics.  Starting early orthodontic treatment is crucial in some cases (about 5-10% of the time), but most kiddos ages 7-10 will not need any interceptive orthodontic treatment.  In these cases, we will put you on an OBSERVATION PROTOCOL and see you approximately every 12 months to continue to evaluate your child.  It is always in your best interest to get a quick look and make sure your child is on track with their teeth eruption patterns and bone growth and development.  Timing is everything, at KCC Orthodontics our goal is to monitor your child’s development to make sure your child is in braces the least amount of time with getting the very best outcome.

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Summer Fun Show and Tell 2021

Whoops! Happens to the best of us. 😄

Keep smiling!!🥰
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We’re on a mission to remind our Katy, Texas community to KEEP SMILING!! 💗💙 While the 'tongue guy' will forever be our mascot, our team is loving the mission behind our new t-shirts.

>>Thanks again to Dr. G for ‘jeans and t-shirt’ days! We like keeping things fun around KCC Ortho- for you and our team. 🤩
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Justin, thank you for sharing your testimony with us! Our team loves reading these together at the beginning of the week. 🥰💙

To schedule a free orthodontic consultation, please call us or complete the consult request form on our website!

📍1260 Pin Oak Rd. Katy, TX 77450
📞 (281) 392-0888
📧 smile@kccortho.com
💻 http://kccortho.com
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🎬 Movie Night is on us! Tag a friend in the comments for a chance to win a Cinemark gift card! 🍿 #CinemarkGiveaway

Winner will be announced at the end of the month! (✨psst… feel free to tag more than one friend. Each separate comment with a tagged friend = an additional entry)

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This giveaway is not sponsored Cinemark. No purchase necessary. Winner will be selected at random and notified via direct message on Instagram. This giveaway is in no way sponsored, endorsed, administered by, or associated with, Instagram or Facebook. We will never ask you to enter any personal information or credit card details. For questions, please contact Katy ClearChoice Orthodontics.
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Right! There is an alternative to orthodontic treatment. ✨😃

At KCC Orthodontics we offer Invisalign clear aligners! Dr. Gutierrez has seen tremendous successes with his Invisalign patients for over 15 years.

To learn more about Invisalign- check out our blog!
🔹 https://kccortho.com/benefits-of-clear-aligners/
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We listen and we don't judge...Patient: "When my clinical assistant walks away, I check out my smile in my phone camera." 🫣

Go ahead! Check out that SMILE! ⚡🤩✨ We get it…we would do it too. 😉💯
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KCC Family, we pray you are staying warm and safe! 🙏 Unfortunately, due to the current weather conditions, our office will be closed TOMORROW, January 21.

🔹 We are closely monitoring weather updates and will inform you of any additional closures. 🔹

📅 Anyone who had an appointment, as soon as we are able, we will begin calling you to reschedule.

Stay warm and be safe,
Dr. G & the KCC Ortho Team
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We can’t wait to see you, (soon-to-be) KCC Orthodontic family! We’re in the Pin Oak Atrium- the black glass building off Pin Oak Rd. (It’s across from the CiCi’s Pizza! 😜)

📍1260 Pin Oak Rd. #208 Katy, TX 77494
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Leadership, communication, and teamwork are all things we believe in here at KCC Orthodontics. ✨ Our mission is to provide you with an extraordinary experience. We are committed to stay united and serve you well.

If we haven’t had the pleasure of meeting, request a free consultation on our website! We’d love to meet you and see how we can make your smile dreams come true. 😃
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