Baby teeth may be small, but they don’t exactly follow a quiet exit plan. One day, your child is flashing a gummy grin, and the next, there’s a mix of gaps, wobbly teeth, and new ones growing in at wild angles. That’s when Dr. Larry Layfield and the team at New Braunfels Orthodontic Associates like to step in, not to rush treatment, but to take a closer look at how everything’s coming together. Let’s explore why that first orthodontic visit around age seven can be a smart move for your child’s long-term dental health.
Why Age Seven?
It might seem early, but age seven offers a rare window into how your child’s smile is taking shape. By this age, most kids have a mix of baby and adult teeth, which gives Dr. Layfield the chance to see how those permanent teeth are lining up, how the jaws are growing, and if anything looks like it might veer off course. It doesn’t mean braces are going on soon, but the New Braunfels Orthodontic Associates team can spot opportunities to guide things while there’s still room to work with natural growth.
Next, let’s walk through what that first checkup actually looks like (spoiler: it’s quick, easy, and surprisingly low-key).
What to Expect at That First Visit
Your first visit to New Braunfels Orthodontic Associates is designed to be easy, informative, and pressure-free. From the moment you walk in, the welcoming team makes sure you feel right at home. After a quick hello, you’ll take a short tour of the office and get a glimpse of the tools we use to track and plan your child’s smile.
Digital Imaging & Evaluation
- We’ll take high-quality digital scans—no messy impressions here.
- These images give Dr. Larry Layfield a clear look at how your child’s teeth and jaw are developing.
Comprehensive Exam
- A gentle, hands-on exam helps spot early concerns like crowding, jaw growth patterns, or bite issues.
- This part is quick but gives us plenty of insight.
One-on-One with Dr. Layfield
- He’ll explain what he sees, answer your questions, and outline next steps.
- If treatment isn’t needed yet, we’ll schedule occasional check-ins to monitor growth.
Clear Next Steps
- We’ll walk you through treatment options, estimated timelines, and costs.
- Have insurance or financing questions? We’ve got answers.
- Ready to start? Same-day braces are available for those who want to move forward.
Next, let’s take a closer look at what early treatment might involve and how it supports long-term dental health.
Why a Head Start Helps
Not every child who visits New Braunfels Orthodontic Associates at age seven will need early treatment, but for some, it can make a world of difference. If your child is having a tough time biting into a burger at Muck & Fuss, chewing on one side, or consistently breathing through their mouth, it might be time to look a little deeper.
Here’s What Early Treatment Can Help With
- Jaws that seem too small, or to shift or pop during chewing
- Teeth that are growing in sideways, too crowded, or spaced far apart
- Bites that look uneven when they close
- Persistent thumb-sucking or speech issues
- Early or late loss of baby teeth (way ahead or way behind classmates)
- Difficulty with nasal breathing, especially when combined with a narrow upper jaw.
Why Early Matters for Active Kids
Catching these issues early often means shorter treatment down the road—or skipping certain appliances altogether. Plus, it helps kids stay confident during school, sports, and even Wurstfest selfies with friends.
Next, we’ll cover what happens after early treatment—and how Dr. Layfield keeps tabs as your child continues to grow.
The Watch-and-Wait Phase
Phase 1 treatment helps guide things early on, but once that phase wraps up, it’s not all braces and wires right away. Instead, most kids shift into what we call the observation phase—a time to pause, monitor, and let natural growth do its thing.
What Observation Visits Look Like
- Short, simple appointments every 4–12 months
- No appliances involved—just photos, scans, and a quick check-in with Dr. Larry Layfield
- Parents get updates, kids get high-fives, and we keep track of changes
Why We Keep Checking In
During this phase, Dr. Layfield is watching for things like:
- How adult teeth are coming in
- Any signs of crowding, spacing, or jaw shifts
- Bite changes as your child grows
What Happens Next?
If everything stays on course, treatment may not be needed at all. If Phase 2 becomes necessary (usually between ages 11–14), the prep work from early treatment often makes that next phase smoother and shorter.
Next, let’s look at how these early visits help build your child’s confidence long before any brackets ever go on.
Early Visits Help Beyond the Smile
Not every benefit of early orthodontic evaluations shows up on an X-ray. These visits help kids feel relaxed and confident about their care and smile. That confidence tends to carry over well beyond the office.
Familiarity Makes a Big Difference
When kids walk into a new place and don’t know what to expect, nerves are totally normal. But early visits give them time to get comfortable without any pressure to start treatment right away.
At New Braunfels Orthodontic Associates, kids are greeted by the same smiling faces each visit. They get to explore the office, ask questions, and hear things explained in ways they can understand. That familiarity makes future visits smoother—and helps reduce stress if treatment is needed down the line.
Confidence That Stretches Beyond the Chair
Smiles are just the start—what really matters is how kids carry themselves when they step into school, sports practice, or the middle of a Market Days crowd. When children feel good about their growing smiles, they tend to speak up more, laugh freely, and engage more confidently with the world around them.
Positive orthodontic experiences early on build the kind of self-assurance that sticks with kids long after their braces come off!
The Earlier, The Easier!
By the time your kid’s biting into a Naegelin’s strudel without missing a beat, you’ll be glad you got a head start. A quick check-in with Dr. Larry Layfield at New Braunfels Orthodontic Associates can spot what’s going right and what might need a little guidance, while things are still flexible. It’s simple, it’s free, and it could make the road ahead a whole lot smoother. Book your free consultation at our New Braunfels office and let’s take the guesswork out of what comes next!
