The American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) recommends that your child get a check-up with an orthodontist at the first recognition of the existence of an orthodontic problem, but no later than age 7. However, you are never too old to benefit from orthodontic treatment. Adults represent a significant percentage of patients in most orthodontic practices. Verify that recommendations are Orthodontic Specialists and not General Dentists performing orthodontic treatment –
Refer to What is a Board Certified Orthodontist to see the difference.A board certified orthodontist is an orthodontist who has voluntarily gone through hundreds of additional hours of preparation to demonstrate their judgment, skills and knowledge required for providing the highest level of patient care. They have achieved board certification through the American Board of Orthodontics, the only orthodontic specialty board recognized by the American Dental Association and in affiliation with the American Association of Orthodontists.

An orthodontist is a dentist who has not only completed a graduate program in dentistry to receive their DDS or DMD (Doctor of Dental Surgery or Doctor of Dental Medicine), but has also gone through a competitive residency at a CODA-accredited orthodontic program for an additional 2-3 years to be trained specifically in orthodontics and dentofacial orthopedics.

Achieving board certification is the last step in a long and intensive educational experience to ultimately provide excellent patient care.