You may look at your child & think everything looks fine and they don't need any treatment but because your eye isn't trained this may not be the case.
1.Here are some reasons you should bring your child to an Orthodontist:
Something may look off but doesn't seem to be bad. Many parents will say their children might have slight spacing, a little crowding or just an overbite but don't truly because they are not a trained professional. If you notice your child has difficulty chewing, biting, or even breathing through their mouth, then it's time to make an appointment. A lot of what's happening in the mouth goes deep under the surface where the naked eye cannot see & would only be seen by getting orthodontic X-rays taken such as a panoramic & cephalometric film. A child may have impacted teeth- and the parent just thinks their baby teeth are taking a while to fall out. But if the child does have an impacted tooth an orthodontic appliance may be needed to bring in the tooth.
2.It's best to bring your child by age 7 & not wait until their older.
By age ,7 your child can be evaluated by an orthodontist. There are enough permanent teeth erupted at this point. It is also best to catch any problems early as it will be easier to correct at a younger age since the bone is more flexible & still growing. By taking your child earlier rather than later you could be saving them from major orthodontic treatments later. Also, sometimes baby teeth need to be extracted for the permanent tooth to come in the right direction with the help of an orthodontic appliance.
3.You do not need a referral from your dentist.
Some parents don't think to take their child to the orthodontist if their dentist doesn't refer them. So, they think their children must not need braces or any treatment. The dentist does not specialize in orthodontics so they may miss something important & not suggest a consult. It is best to trust the professionals who are trained in their specialty to give you a consultation and make a recommendation for treatment or not.