If you’re a Royal Oak parent wondering when to book that first orthodontic visit, you’re not alone. It’s one of the most common questions Dr. Friedman hears at Motor City Smiles, and the answer often surprises people: earlier than you’d think.
The Right Age for a First Orthodontic Visit
The American Association of Orthodontists recommends that every child have their first orthodontic evaluation around age 7 or 8. At this age, your child still has a mix of baby and adult teeth, which gives Dr. Friedman a clear picture of how the bite and jaw are developing.
That doesn’t mean your seven-year-old is getting braces at this visit. Most kids aren’t ready for treatment that early, and that’s completely normal. An evaluation now simply means nothing gets missed. If something does need attention, you’ll know while it’s still easiest to treat.
What Dr. Friedman Looks For at That First Visit
An early evaluation at Motor City Smiles is about spotting the issues that are easier to manage while your child’s jaw is still growing. Dr. Friedman keeps an eye out for:
- Crossbites
- Habits like thumb sucking, tongue thrusts or mouth breathing
- Severe crowding
- Overbites and underbites
- Traumatic biting that can chip or wear down teeth
Catching these early can mean avoiding extractions of adult teeth later and simplifying treatment during the teen years. Orthodontic problems don’t improve with age. They become harder to treat as the bones of the face and jaw become stiffer and more developed.
What If Your Child Isn’t Ready for Treatment Yet?
Most kids who come in for an early evaluation don’t need treatment right away, and that’s a great outcome. If Dr. Friedman finds your child’s jaw is developing normally, you’ll be invited back every six months for a complimentary check-in so we can keep watching until the timing is right for the next step, whether that’s Phase I early treatment or waiting until adolescence for Phase II.
A Board-Certified Orthodontist Royal Oak Families Trust
Dr. Friedman is a Diplomate and board-certified by the American Board of Orthodontics, an honor held by only about one in three orthodontists nationwide. He completed his orthodontic residency at the University of Detroit Mercy, earning both a Certificate in Orthodontics and a Master’s in Oral Sciences, and he’s a member of the American Association of Orthodontists and the Michigan Association of Orthodontists.
He also happens to live right here in Royal Oak, where he regularly runs into patients at the supermarket. As he puts it, every case is a puzzle worth solving, and seeing a patient through from that very first evaluation to a confident new smile never gets old.
Schedule Your Child’s Free Consultation
There’s no cost and no obligation to find out where your child stands. We see families from Royal Oak, Ferndale, Berkley, Huntington Woods and Detroit whichever of our offices is easiest for your schedule. Our Royal Oak office is two blocks from Royal Oak Middle School, so patients can walk to their appointments and parents can pick them up afterward, which makes visits easy to fit into a busy day.
Call (248) 268-8886 to schedule your complimentary consultation at any of our three offices: 903 North Main Street in Royal Oak, 425 West Huron St. Suite 210 in Milford, or 407 E Fort St #502 in Detroit.
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