Children
Consider eruption, crossbites, jaw shifts, trauma risk and the age-seven screening recommendation.
Treatment journey · Stage 1
Wonder: decide whether an orthodontic assessment is worth considering
Notice the concern, document it and choose the right first conversation—without trying to diagnose a bite from a mirror or photo.
Diagnosis before applianceThis page supports informed questions. It cannot examine you or determine treatment suitability.
The plain answer
An assessment is reasonable when alignment, bite, eruption, function, relapse or growth raises a persistent question.
Visible crowding or spacing may prompt the question, but functional concerns, uneven wear, biting trauma, impacted teeth and growth can matter even when the smile looks acceptable.
Early assessment does not automatically mean immediate treatment. Adults can also be assessed at any age when oral health supports movement.
What matters
Key points before you act
Use these as a decision filter at a real consultation.
Teens
Include cooperation, hygiene, school, sport and growth.
Adults
Include gum health, restorations, missing teeth, relapse and realistic goals.
Start with the concern
Orthodontic problems are three-dimensional and involve more than front-tooth appearance. A licensed provider must integrate examination and selected records.
Use this stage to define the concern and decide whether your general dentist, an orthodontic specialist or another provider is the sensible first contact.
What an assessment may examine
A useful review should consider:
No single photograph, scan or symptom can answer every one of those questions. The treating provider should explain which records are needed, what each record shows and how the findings change the plan.
- the visible alignment and the bite;
- eruption, missing or impacted teeth;
- jaw growth and functional shift;
- gum and bone health;
- previous treatment and retainer history.
Assessment can lead to treatment, observation or referral
Observation can be an active plan when timing is not yet right. Treatment can be limited or comprehensive, depending on the objective and diagnosis.
Do not choose braces or aligners before understanding what movement is required and what health constraints exist.
The appropriate option can change after an examination. Use this comparison to prepare questions, not to self-prescribe treatment.
Prepare useful information
Write down what you notice, when it began and whether it affects chewing, cleaning, speech, comfort or confidence. Bring old records or retainers when relevant.
Seek urgent dental care for pain, swelling, trauma or infection rather than waiting for an orthodontic information response.
- Take dated photos only as a record, not as a diagnosis.
- Ask your dentist about oral health before active movement.
- Use the BCCOHP registry to verify provider credentials.
Questions to take to a consultation
- What exactly concerns me?
- Is the issue changing?
- Does it affect function or oral health?
- What records are needed to assess it?
- Would a specialist opinion add value?
Common questions
Questions patients ask
Does crowding always need treatment?
No. Need, timing and scope depend on health, bite, function and patient goals.
Why is age seven mentioned?
The AAO recommends an orthodontic check by age seven so developing concerns can be identified; it does not mean every child starts treatment then.
Can adults be treated?
Often, yes, when oral and periodontal health and the proposed movements support treatment.
Primary references
Sources used for this guide
External sources can change. Verify current regulatory and product information at the linked publisher.
- When should a child see an orthodontist? ↗American Association of Orthodontists
- What to expect at a first orthodontic appointment ↗American Association of Orthodontists
- Search the BCCOHP public registry ↗British Columbia College of Oral Health Professionals