Early treatment
Early orthodontic treatment: a parent’s guide
Knowing when your child needs orthodontic treatment can be confusing. An early orthodontic evaluation can help you understand how your child’s teeth and jaws are developing and, just as importantly, whether anything needs to be done right now.
At Sharp Smiles Orthodontics, we believe early evaluation should not mean automatic early treatment. Our goal is to identify developing problems, explain what we’re seeing, and determine the right timing for your individual child.
Sometimes that means treatment. Very often, it means monitoring growth and waiting.
Wondering if this applies to your child? A quick evaluation gives you a straight answer, and no assumption that treatment is needed.
The questions
Ten questions parents ask
Each question has its own page with the full answer. Read the ones that sound like your child.
- When should my child first see an orthodontist?
- Does every 7-year-old need orthodontic treatment?
- Then why evaluate children so early?
- What does an orthodontist look for at an age-7 evaluation?
- When is waiting the better treatment?
- Will Phase I treatment prevent my child from needing braces later?
- Can early orthodontic treatment prevent extractions later?
- Can orthodontics influence jaw growth?
- Do I need a referral from my child’s dentist?
- Is it too late for my child to see an orthodontist?
Every child’s development is different. If something here sounds familiar, the next step isn’t braces. It’s a conversation with Dr. Sharp.
Our approach to early orthodontics at Sharp Smiles
Parents often come to an orthodontist wanting an answer to a deceptively simple question: “Does my child need orthodontic treatment?” We believe the better questions are:
- Is there a problem?
- Does it need to be treated?
- Would treating it now provide an advantage over waiting?
- And if we wait, what should we monitor?
Dr. Irina Sharp evaluates each child individually and recommends treatment based on the child’s specific orthodontic problem and stage of development. If treatment would provide a meaningful benefit now, we’ll explain why. If waiting is the better choice, we’ll explain that too.
Our goal is not to start orthodontic treatment as early as possible. Our goal is to provide the right treatment at the right time.
Schedule an early orthodontic evaluation in Broomfield
If your child is approaching age 7, or if you have concerns about crowding, the bite, jaw development or the way permanent teeth are coming in, we’d be happy to evaluate them.
At your child’s visit, we’ll help you understand what we’re seeing, whether anything needs attention now, and what we recommend monitoring as your child grows.
1275 E. 1st Ave, Unit A
Broomfield, CO 80020
Opening November 2, 2026
Know now. Treat only if necessary.
Schedule an orthodontic evaluation with Dr. Irina Sharp at Sharp Smiles Orthodontics in Broomfield, Colorado. We’ll tell you honestly what we see, and what, if anything, we recommend.