Proactive Monitoring for Growing Smiles
The foundation of a confident, healthy smile begins long before braces are placed. Early Alignment Checkups are a critical part of preventive orthodontic care at Utah Orthodontic Care, helping detect and track bite and alignment issues as a child’s mouth develops.
These visits are designed to identify potential concerns before they turn into complex problems. As part of our Developmental Guidance & Monitoring services in Phase I Orthodontics, our team uses regular checkups to observe tooth eruption, jaw growth, and alignment—all at no cost to the family during initial consultation stages.
Whether your child is 7 or just beginning to lose their baby teeth, early alignment checkups can provide clarity, peace of mind, and a smarter orthodontic timeline.
What Is an Early Alignment Checkup?
An early alignment checkup is a clinical evaluation that tracks the growth, spacing, and bite alignment of a child’s teeth. These visits usually begin around age 7 and are used to assess how the teeth are coming in and whether future orthodontic treatment may be necessary.
Each checkup includes:
- Visual assessment of the bite and arch development
- Evaluation of spacing, crowding, and tooth eruption sequence
- Screening for crossbite, open bite, overbite, and underbite
- Examination for growth asymmetries in the jaws
- Guidance on oral habits like thumb sucking or mouth breathing
- Discussion of future treatment needs, if any
When needed, we’ll recommend next steps, which might include growth and development evaluations or early intervention with appliances like habit appliances or space maintainers.
Why Early Checkups Matter
Many orthodontic problems begin before all permanent teeth are in place. If left unmonitored, crowding, jaw misalignment, and abnormal growth patterns can make future treatment more complicated and invasive.
The benefits of early alignment checkups include:
- Catching issues before they require more aggressive correction
- Preventing or minimizing the need for extractions or surgery
- Helping guide teeth into better positions naturally
- Reducing overall treatment time with braces later on
- Giving families a clear picture of what to expect as their child grows
These proactive checkups are especially helpful for children with a family history of orthodontic issues, delayed tooth loss, or signs of jaw misalignment.
When to Schedule an Early Alignment Checkup
We recommend your child’s first checkup around age 7, when a mix of primary and permanent teeth is present. At this age, we can clearly evaluate:
- Whether the bite is developing properly
- If the teeth have enough space to erupt
- How the upper and lower jaws are growing in relation to each other
If no treatment is needed, we’ll place your child on a monitoring plan, seeing them every 6–12 months to track growth. If early intervention is advised, we may introduce limited (partial) braces or other tools that can gently guide teeth and jaws into healthier positions.
What Our Patients Say About Us
Our customers love our service! Here are some of their glowing reviews:
“This clinic is AWESOME! Everyone is so friendly and the doctor is great! I’m happy with my teeth and you really can’t beat the price! Great services and low pricing! I would recommend everyone to come here! Also they are always doing patient appreciation events that are so fun! Bring your kids, your spouse, your friends, your neighbors, BRING EVERYONE!”
“Great orthodontics! I got my braces at UOC and they’ve been so amazing! First appointment is free, they’ll evaluate your teeth and talk to you about braces option options and prices/ plans.My dental insurance did not cover braces for adults ( I chose not to when I made my plan ) and even if I switched my plan I don’t think it would be a nice affordable plan like UOC offered me with monthly payments … I’m happy with them! They were always nice, friendly and flexible with schedules! Recommend it 100%!”
“I love this office. The doctor is fun with the kids, very friendly and approachable. The staff is typically very easy to work with and any time we have any question or concern they have been quick to make it right with us. We had a billing hiccup and Lauren was incredibly understanding and made the process to fix it easy. As a lower income family with multiple kids needing orthodontic work, this has been a huge weight off my shoulders. I cannot recommend them enough.”
“This clinic is AWESOME! Everyone is so friendly and the doctor is great! I’m happy with my teeth and you really can’t beat the price! Great services and low pricing! I would recommend everyone to come here! Also they are always doing patient appreciation events that are so fun! Bring your kids, your spouse, your friends, your neighbors, BRING EVERYONE!”
“Great orthodontics! I got my braces at UOC and they’ve been so amazing! First appointment is free, they’ll evaluate your teeth and talk to you about braces option options and prices/ plans. My dental insurance did not cover braces for adults ( I chose not to when I made my plan ) and even if I switched my plan I don’t think it would be a nice affordable plan like UOC offered me with monthly payments … I’m happy with them! They were always nice, friendly and flexible with schedules! Recommend it 100%!”
“I love this office. The doctor is fun with the kids, very friendly and approachable. The staff is typically very easy to work with and any time we have any question or concern they have been quick to make it right with us. We had a billing hiccup and Lauren was incredibly understanding and made the process to fix it easy. As a lower income family with multiple kids needing orthodontic work, this has been a huge weight off my shoulders. I cannot recommend them enough.”
Where to Get an Early Alignment Checkup in Utah
At Utah Orthodontic Care, we’re committed to helping families make informed decisions—without pressure. Our early alignment checkups are available at all eight of our convenient offices throughout northern Utah.
You can bring your child in for an early assessment at any of these locations:
FAQs About Early Alignment Checkups
Schedule a Free Early Alignment Checkup Today
Early orthodontic visits give you the power to plan ahead—and give your child the best shot at a confident, healthy smile. At Utah Orthodontic Care, our early alignment checkups are designed to support families without pressure or obligation.
Here’s what you can expect:
- Free initial evaluation with photos and imaging
- Expert orthodontic guidance from our caring doctors
- No-obligation monitoring plans if no treatment is needed
- Flexible financing and insurance acceptance if treatment is recommended
- Eight clinics throughout the Wasatch Front for easy scheduling
Call (801) 999-4431 or book your free consultation online to begin your child’s orthodontic journey with confidence.
