You probably can’t tell just by looking — and that’s not a failure of observation. The signs that matter most in children’s orthodontics often aren’t visible in the bathroom mirror. They show up in the bite, the jaw, and how things are growing.
That said, there are things parents notice at home that are genuinely worth paying attention to. And there are things that look alarming but turn out to be completely normal.
Here’s how Dr. Jen at Impact Orthodontics approaches this question — what she’s actually looking for, and what you can watch for at home.
What parents can see — and what it usually means
Crowded or overlapping teeth are the most common reason parents book a first appointment. Mild crowding during the in-between years (ages 6–12, when baby teeth are falling out and adult teeth are coming in) is expected. Moderate to severe crowding — significant overlapping, a tooth clearly out of line — usually won’t sort itself out on its own. Are crooked teeth in kids normal? covers this in more detail.
Gaps between teeth often close naturally as adult teeth come in. A gap between the two upper front teeth is extremely common in young children and usually closes on its own. Gaps that are still there after all the adult teeth are in are worth getting checked.
A tooth coming in behind a baby tooth looks alarming but usually sorts itself out once the baby tooth is pulled or falls out. If the adult tooth appears to be growing in completely the wrong direction, that’s worth a quick look.
An obvious jaw shift — where the lower jaw visibly moves to one side when your child bites down — is something to act on. This often points to a crossbite.
Front teeth that stick out a lot increase the chance of tooth damage from a fall and may be easier to fix while your child is still growing.
What you might not notice — but Dr. Jen will
The things parents miss are often the most important findings.
How the bite fits together. Whether the upper and lower teeth meet properly, and whether the upper and lower jaws are in balance. An underbite — where the lower teeth sit in front of the upper — can look mild in childhood but is genuinely time-sensitive. Dr. Jen has seen families who came in just before the window to fix it closed, and families who came in after. The difference in how complicated treatment gets is significant.
The width of the upper jaw. A narrow upper jaw causes crowding as the adult teeth come in, and it also means less room to breathe through the nose. Many children with narrow jaws breathe through their mouth, snore, or sleep poorly — and the connection to the jaw is one they or their parents never made. Dr. Jen has had parents tell her, after their child’s palate expansion, that they didn’t realize how poorly their child had been sleeping until the breathing improved. A growth assessment looks at this specifically.
Jaw growth patterns. A cephalometric X-ray — a side-view skull X-ray — shows how the upper and lower jaws are positioned and which direction they’re growing. This is information you can’t get just from looking at the teeth. It’s what makes early treatment meaningful when the timing is right. The Canadian Association of Orthodontists recommends every child be screened by age 7 for exactly this reason.
Where hidden teeth are headed. A panoramic X-ray shows all the teeth below the gum line — including stuck canine teeth, missing teeth, or adult teeth growing in the wrong direction. Finding a stuck canine early changes how complicated treatment needs to be.
Things to mention at an assessment
- Your child consistently chews on only one side
- Your child avoids harder foods or says eating hurts
- Your child breathes through their mouth, especially while sleeping
- There’s regular snoring or restless sleep
- Your child has been sucking their thumb or using a pacifier past age 4
- You notice a click or pop when your child opens or closes their mouth
- Your child’s dentist flagged something and you weren’t sure what to do next
None of these are a diagnosis on their own. But together with an orthodontic assessment, they help paint a more complete picture.
The honest answer about timing
One thing Dr. Jen is direct about: orthodontics isn’t always about acting right away. For many kids, the right answer is “the bite looks like it’s heading in a good direction — come back in a year.” That’s not a waste of your time. That’s the most useful thing she can tell you.
What she’s looking for is the difference between crookedness that’s just part of normal growing and problems that are genuinely time-sensitive — where treating during growth leads to a much better result than waiting. If you’re wondering whether early treatment applies to your child, Does my child need Phase 1 orthodontic treatment? walks through exactly that question.
What to do next
A first assessment at Impact Orthodontics in Calgary takes about an hour, is completely free for children under 20, and ends with Dr. Jen giving you a clear picture of where things stand. Here’s exactly what that appointment looks like if you want to know what to expect.
Book your child’s free consultation at our SE or SW Calgary location.
Frequently asked questions
What age should my child first see an orthodontist?
The Canadian Association of Orthodontists recommends a check-up by age 7 — not because most 7-year-olds need treatment, but because that’s when bite problems first become visible. Many issues that are simple to fix at 7 become much more complicated by 14. First consultations at Impact Orthodontics are always free for children under 20.
Are slightly crooked teeth a reason to see an orthodontist?
Possibly — not because of how they look, but because they can sometimes point to jaw issues that aren’t visible from the outside. Are crooked teeth in kids normal? covers what’s typical development and what’s worth getting checked.
What actually happens at a first orthodontist appointment?
It’s a conversation, a quick exam, X-rays if needed, and a clear explanation of what Dr. Jen found — with no treatment happening that day. What happens at a child’s first orthodontist appointment? walks through exactly what to expect.
Is there a benefit to getting braces earlier rather than waiting?
For some kids, yes — there are jaw and bite problems where acting during growth leads to a much better result than waiting. For others, waiting for full treatment is the smarter move. Does my child need Phase 1 orthodontic treatment? explains how Dr. Jen decides which situation your child is in.
Should my child see a dentist or an orthodontist for braces?
For children — especially those under 12 or with bite concerns — an orthodontic specialist is worth seeing first. Should my child see a dentist or an orthodontist for braces? explains the difference and why it matters more for kids than adults.
