One child’s adult teeth came in neatly; the younger one’s look crowded at the same age. Siblings rarely follow the same timeline. For Burlington households, an early orthodontic assessment looks at each child on their own terms and explains whether watching, records or a specialist visit makes sense.
Comparing is natural. An older child lost their front baby teeth at six and the adult ones came in straight, so when a younger sibling’s look tilted or bunched at the same age, it is easy to worry. Tooth size, jaw growth and eruption order vary a great deal, even within one family.
That is why we look at your child alone. The dentist counts which adult teeth are through, gauges the space left for the ones on their way and watches how the jaws close together. You hear what stands out now, what is likely to sort itself out and what still needs time to judge.
From Burlington or anywhere else, the outcome of a first review is often a plan to look again, sometimes a referral, and only occasionally a treatment discussion. None of those is automatic. Any suggested timing should come with a reason you understand and a clear idea of what the next check will tell you.
Spotting an orthodontic problem is not your responsibility. Between your observations, the examination and any records that the findings justify, the clinician can tell a feature to keep an eye on from one that warrants a closer look.
An adult tooth erupting at an angle, or one side of the mouth racing ahead of the other, is worth describing. How it looks is just the beginning. The dentist also weighs the space in the arch, the baby teeth still holding their place and the overall pattern.
Some children close with a few upper teeth tucked behind the lower ones, or their jaw drifts sideways as the teeth meet. Others avoid certain foods. Describe what you see, and the clinician can sort out whether teeth, jaw movement or something else is responsible.
A lingering thumb or finger habit, a fall that knocked a tooth and a baby tooth lost long before its time can each influence what we look for. Mention sleep or breathing concerns too. Those may also need attention from a physician, and it helps us to know.
Pain, swelling or a fresh injury needs its own appointment rather than an orthodontic review. Mention those symptoms when you get in touch so we can book the right visit.
By age seven, according to the Canadian Association of Orthodontists, children should have had a specialist look at their developing bite. That advice exists to catch emerging problems early. Most children assessed then are not candidates for immediate treatment. Ask how our dental review relates to an orthodontist’s check.
During growth, a targeted intervention can help certain children. Many others are better observed and reassessed. A general dental review should be clear about its own scope and say when a specialist ought to be involved. No one can predict a child’s complete treatment path from how their teeth look.
Patient information: Canadian Association of Orthodontists — assessment and treatment questions
Learning which teeth are baby teeth and which are permanent makes a shifting smile easier to follow. The dentist can highlight the findings that matter and those that tend to change unaided. That is far more helpful than holding one sibling’s photos against another’s.
If the advice is to observe, ask what exactly will be checked next: a tooth on its way in, the space around it, or how the teeth come together. Knowing the purpose and rough timing makes it much easier to keep the appointment.
A referral opens a fuller discussion of diagnosis, timing and alternatives. Ask what will be shared with the specialist and whether existing records are helpful. You deserve to understand a proposal before agreeing to an appliance or treatment plan.
Use the appointment to ask about growth and tooth position. Children sometimes have worries their parents have not heard, so give yours a chance to speak.
Tell us about health updates, earlier dental treatment, knocks to the mouth, habits and when baby teeth fell out. If an older sibling had orthodontics, that is useful context. Bring any previous orthodontic advice or records you can get hold of.
The clinician reviews the developing teeth, the spacing and the bite, within what this visit is meant to cover. Your child may be asked to open, close or bite down. We describe what we are doing as we go so it never feels mysterious.
Imaging and other records are suggested only when the findings support them. Being an orthodontic visit does not make them routine. Ask what a record would clarify and whether a specialist is better placed to take or read it.
We explain the findings and why one timing is preferred. If referral is suggested, confirm who makes the arrangements and what to do until then. If monitoring, note the interval and the changes that would justify calling earlier.
An assessment usually does not come with an appliance to care for. Follow any specific advice, and keep brushing, flossing and regular checkups going while development is reviewed.
Write down when the review or referral is due and why. Busy family calendars make it easy to slip, so call if the timing needs to change. A developing tooth can only be followed if someone looks at it again.
Molars that are just breaking through and crowded corners are hard for children to reach. Ask us for technique tips and keep helping as suits their age. Orthodontic planning sits beside cavity prevention; it never replaces it.
Let us know about new chewing trouble, a tooth lost unexpectedly or anything we asked you to watch. Do not try elastics or online gadgets to move a tooth. Moving teeth safely depends on diagnosis, planning and professional supervision.
Mixed baby and adult teeth can make timing confusing. Use these answers as a starting point and ask how they apply to your child.
Contact our Bronte Street practice to talk about how your child’s teeth are developing. Tell us what you have noticed, mention any sibling history or earlier advice, and we will book an assessment and say whether an orthodontist’s opinion would add something.
An assessment is not a decision to treat. What happens next depends on your child’s own findings.
