By about seven, a child's first adult molars and front teeth are through, so a specialist orthodontist can see how the bite and jaws are developing. For most children, the outcome is simply a plan to keep watching.
The visit is an examination and an explanation for parents with a specialist orthodontist. Nothing is fitted to the teeth.
It is a check of how a child's teeth, bite and jaws are developing, usually around age seven, once the first adult molars and front teeth have come through. At Creative Arts in Dubai, a specialist orthodontist looks for crossbites, crowding, protruding or deep-biting front teeth, missing or extra teeth and habits. Most children are simply monitored; if an early step might help, the specialist explains what it would involve.
Routine check-ups continue with your child's dentist or our children's dentistry team.
Seven is not a rule, but it is a useful moment. Orthodontic organisations such as the American Association of Orthodontists suggest a first orthodontic check by about this age, for practical reasons:
Earlier than this, many bite features are temporary; much later, some options that growth offers have passed. The check commits your child to nothing and gives you a baseline.
The assessment is a structured look at five things. None of it involves treatment.
Whether the upper front teeth stick forward, cover too much of the lower ones, or close behind them. Prominent upper front teeth are more easily injured in a fall. How these are corrected later is explained on overbite correction.
Whether upper back teeth close inside the lower ones, and whether the lower jaw slides to one side to bite. A crossbite with a jaw shift is one of the main things this check is designed to catch.
Crowding of the new front teeth, baby teeth lost early to decay or injury, and whether neighbouring teeth are drifting into the space an adult tooth will need later.
Adult teeth that have not formed, an extra tooth stopping another from erupting, or an upper canine heading off course. These are confirmed with an X-ray only when the examination points to them.
Thumb or finger sucking, a dummy, a tongue that pushes forward when swallowing, or mostly breathing through the mouth. These can shape the bite; persistent mouth breathing may also need a check by your child's doctor.
Many things that worry parents at seven are normal stages of development. These lists show how the decision usually goes; the examination decides for your child.
Expect an appointment built around looking and explaining, with time for your questions.
Your concerns, your child's medical history, habits, when baby teeth were lost, and any family history of bite problems such as an underbite.
StartThe specialist counts the teeth, checks how they meet from the front and sides, and watches how the jaw moves as your child closes.
Same visitPhotographs help track change over time. An X-ray is taken only when it would answer a specific question, such as a tooth that has not appeared.
If neededWhat is normal for your child's age, what is worth watching, and anything that would change the advice.
Same visitMost children get a review timed to the next teeth erupting. If an early step might help, the specialist explains what it involves, its limits and whether later treatment would still be likely.
Before you leave
A little preparation makes the visit easier for your child and more useful for you.
If your child is nervous about dental visits, mention it when you book so the appointment can be paced for them. Everyday care at this age is covered in our guide to children's dental care.
Seeing an orthodontist at seven does not mean braces at seven. Most children who need orthodontics start comprehensive treatment once most adult teeth are through, often in the early teens; see orthodontics for teenagers and our orthodontics overview. Where the specialist thinks an earlier step could help, for example with a crossbite that makes the jaw shift, they explain what it would involve, what it can and cannot achieve, and whether a second phase would still be needed, so you can decide with the full picture.
Children's orthodontic assessments are carried out by our two specialist orthodontists. Dr. Valeriia Kozachenko has a particular focus on jaw function, and Dr. Muhannad Kazzaz often sees complex bite problems.
Neither. Around seven is a good time because the first adult molars and front teeth are usually through and the jaws are still growing, but a first orthodontic assessment at nine or ten is still useful. You do not need to wait for seven if you notice a crossbite, front teeth that close behind the lower ones, or a jaw that shifts when your child bites.
No. Most children seen at this age are simply monitored, and any comprehensive treatment usually waits until most adult teeth have come through, often in the early teens. The assessment sets a baseline and spots the few problems where timing matters. If an early step might help, the specialist explains it and you decide.
Not necessarily. Many assessments need only an examination and perhaps photographs. An X-ray is taken when it would answer a specific question, such as whether an adult tooth is missing, whether an extra tooth is blocking another, or where an upper canine is heading. Recent X-rays from your child's dentist may avoid repeating one.
It can. A sucking habit that continues after the adult front teeth arrive can push the upper teeth forward, stop the front teeth meeting and narrow the upper jaw. Many children stop on their own, and some changes then improve. The orthodontist checks whether the habit is affecting the bite; persistent problems are covered on our open bite correction page.
A gap between the upper front teeth is common between about seven and nine and often narrows as the canines come through. Mention it at the assessment, especially if the gap is large or a tooth seems to be missing, because an X-ray may then be useful. The band of gum between the two front teeth is checked as well.
Reviews are timed to the next stage of tooth development, often every six to twelve months, so the specialist can compare the bite with the previous visit. Regular dental check-ups continue in between. You can bring a review forward if you notice a change, such as a tooth coming in behind another or a new shift of the jaw.
Tell us what you would like to change. The clinic replies within working hours with an appointment time.
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A consultation ends with a diagnosis and a written, itemised plan — not a sales pitch. Book online, message us on WhatsApp, or call the clinic.
