A new school year always comes with its own checklist: new shoes, a fresh backpack, updated shot records, maybe a new pair of glasses. For families in Burlington, Graham, Elon, and Mebane, it’s also a natural moment to add one more thing to that list: a check on your child’s smile and bite.
Back to school is already a checkpoint season
Think about everything else that gets reviewed before the first day of school. Pediatricians check growth and vision. Dentists check for cavities. Teachers assess where a child is academically compared to the year before. A new grade is essentially a yearly benchmark, and your child’s bite and jaw development deserve the same kind of check-in. Kids change fast, and a lot can shift between one school year and the next without you noticing day to day.
What we’re actually looking for
An orthodontic evaluation isn’t just about whether teeth look straight. Dr. Daly is checking how the upper and lower jaws are growing in relation to each other, whether there’s enough room for permanent teeth to come in, and whether habits like thumb sucking or mouth breathing are starting to affect development. These are things that are much easier to guide early than to correct later, which is exactly why catching them at a routine checkpoint matters.
Why age 7 is the benchmark parents hear about
The American Association of Orthodontists recommends a first orthodontic evaluation by age 7. That’s not because treatment usually starts that early, but because enough permanent teeth and jaw structure are in place by then for an orthodontist to spot patterns worth watching. If your child is around that age, or if it’s simply been a while since their last check, the start of a new school year is a natural time to schedule it.
Small shifts are easier to catch early
Bite and jaw issues don’t always show up as an obvious problem. Sometimes it’s subtle, like a slight shift in how teeth are coming in or a jaw that’s not quite tracking evenly. Because a school year is a clear, recurring marker, it gives you and your orthodontist a consistent point of comparison. Catching a small change early on can mean a simpler path forward instead of a bigger correction down the road.
What a visit at Daly Orthodontics looks like
An evaluation with Dr. Daly is quick, low-pressure, and free. She’ll look at your child’s smile and bite, explain what she’s seeing in plain terms, and let you know whether it’s a “let’s just keep an eye on this” situation or something worth starting sooner. Either way, you’ll leave with a clear picture instead of a guessing game.
As you’re checking things off your back-to-school list this year, add your child’s smile and bite to it. It’s a small step that can make a real difference down the road.
Frequently asked questions
Why is back-to-school season a good time to check my child’s smile and bite? A new school year is already a natural checkpoint for growth, vision, and health, which makes it an easy time to add an orthodontic evaluation to the routine.
Do I need to wait until my child has a specific problem to schedule an evaluation? No. Orthodontic evaluations are meant to catch developing issues early, often before there’s a visible problem, so it’s worth scheduling as part of a routine check-in.
At what age should my child have their first orthodontic evaluation? The American Association of Orthodontists recommends a first evaluation by age 7, though children of any age can be evaluated.
What does an orthodontist check for during an evaluation? Dr. Daly checks jaw growth and alignment, whether there’s enough room for permanent teeth, and habits like thumb sucking or mouth breathing that can affect development.
Is the first evaluation at Daly Orthodontics free? Yes. Daly Orthodontics offers a complimentary evaluation with Dr. Daly for children and patients of any age.