By Dr Viktorija Bird
When most parents picture braces, they imagine a teenager. But the most valuable orthodontic appointment of your child's life often happens years earlier, long before there's any visible problem to fix. An early orthodontic assessment isn't about putting a seven-year-old in braces; it's about watching how the jaws and bite are developing and catching the issues that are far easier to guide than to undo. Here's why we encourage Wimbledon families to think about a check sooner rather than later.
What is an early orthodontic assessment?
An early assessment is a short, gentle examination of how your child's teeth and jaws are growing. Around the age of seven, most children have a mix of baby and adult teeth, which gives us a clear window into how the permanent bite is shaping up. We look at how the upper and lower teeth meet, whether there's enough room for the adult teeth still to come through, and whether habits or jaw growth might be steering things off course.
Crucially, an assessment is not a commitment to treatment. For the majority of children, the outcome is simply a plan to keep monitoring. The aim is to identify the small number who would benefit from acting early, and to reassure everyone else that nature is doing its job.
Why timing matters so much
A child's jaw is still growing, which is exactly what makes early checks so useful. While the bones are developing, gentle guidance can encourage the jaws and teeth into a better position with less effort. Once growth slows in the late teens, some of those same problems can only be corrected with longer, more complex treatment, or, in a few cases, surgery.
Spotting things early also helps with practical issues that affect daily life. A child who can't close their lips comfortably, who struggles to bite or chew, or who is self-conscious about prominent front teeth can benefit hugely from a timely plan. Early assessment is the foundation of good orthodontic and Invisalign care later on, because we already understand the full picture before any treatment begins.
Signs it may be worth booking a check
- Baby teeth lost very early or unusually late
- Difficulty biting or chewing, or front teeth that stick out noticeably
- Crowding, gaps, or teeth coming through in the wrong place
- A jaw that shifts to one side, or upper and lower teeth that don't meet evenly
- Persistent thumb or dummy sucking past the early years
- Mouth breathing or speech that seems affected by the teeth
Fit it around the school year, not the summer rush. Many local families are juggling school runs across Wimbledon Village, sport on the Common and the busy weeks around the Championships. A quiet morning slot in term time means an unhurried first assessment, and if a sibling needs checking too, we can usually arrange back-to-back appointments to save you a second trip down the High Street.
How often should children be seen?
Even before any orthodontic question arises, regular dental check-ups are the backbone of children's care, and they're the appointments where developing bite problems first come to light. The NHS bases check-up frequency on each child's individual risk rather than a fixed rule, but the general guidance looks like this:
| Situation | Suggested interval between check-ups |
|---|---|
| Children & young people (general guidance) | Between 3 and 12 months |
| Lower risk of dental problems | Towards 12 months |
| Higher risk (decay or developing bite issues) | More frequent, as advised by your dentist |
| Suggested first orthodontic assessment | Around age 7 |
Your dentist will recommend the right interval for your child at each visit. Keeping to those routine appointments is the simplest way to ensure a developing problem is noticed in good time, part of the everyday family dentistry we provide.
Book your child's orthodontic check in Wimbledon Village
Friendly, no-pressure assessments with Dr Viktorija Bird and the team at The Dental Lounges Wimbledon. We'll tell you honestly whether anything needs doing, and when.
Book an appointment Explore Invisalign optionsWhat happens if treatment is recommended?
If your child does need help, an early assessment lets us choose the most effective moment to step in, which is often not straight away. Some children benefit from a short phase of early guidance while the jaw is still growing, followed later by a second stage once most adult teeth are through. Others are simply reviewed each year until the timing is right for a single course of treatment such as braces or clear aligners.
When the teenage years arrive, the options have come a long way. As a certified Invisalign provider, we can offer discreet, removable Invisalign Teen aligners for suitable cases, popular with self-conscious teenagers and easier to keep clean than fixed braces. NHS orthodontics is also available free for under-18s who meet the clinical-need threshold.
NHS or private orthodontics?
NHS orthodontic treatment is free for under-18s, but only where there's a clear clinical need, graded using the national Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need (IOTN). Not every child qualifies, and waiting times can be long. Private treatment offers more choice over timing, appliance type and appearance. An early assessment helps you weigh up both routes calmly, well before any decision is needed. You can find more detail on our Invisalign in Wimbledon page, or get in touch via our contact page to talk it through. For an overview of everything we offer families, the home page is a good place to start.
Frequently asked questions
Many orthodontic bodies suggest a first check by around age seven, when a mix of baby and adult teeth makes it easier to spot how the bite and jaws are developing. An assessment at this age rarely means braces straight away, often it simply means we keep an eye on things and act at the right moment.
NHS orthodontic treatment is available free for under-18s who have a clear clinical need, assessed using the national IOTN grading. Not every child qualifies, and waiting lists can be long. Private options, including Invisalign Teen, offer more flexibility on timing and appearance.
Usually not. The point of an early assessment is to monitor growth and decide on the best time to act, if action is needed at all. For many children the recommendation is simply to review again in a year, so we treat at the most effective moment rather than too soon.
