Trusted Growth & Orthodontic Monitoring for your children in Laguna Niguel at Kidz Modern Dentistry. We provide ongoing tracking of jaw and tooth development to support healthy orthodontic growth. Book now!
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Many parents assume orthodontics starts in the teen years, once all the permanent teeth are in. But a child’s jaws and bite are developing long before then, and some of the most useful chances to guide that growth come early. Growth and orthodontic monitoring tracks how your child’s teeth, jaws, and bite develop over time, so changes are noticed as they happen rather than after they have become harder to correct.
At Kidz Modern Dentistry in Laguna Niguel, Dr. Lida Pishbin and Dr. Solmaz Shir build growth monitoring into your child’s regular visits. Findings are compared with earlier records, explained to parents in plain language, and when a concern needs more than observation, the team provides early treatment or coordinates closely with a trusted orthodontist.
Real families sharing their experiences with our pediatric dental care.
Growth monitoring is more than counting teeth. The dentist looks at how the upper and lower jaws relate to each other, whether the incoming permanent teeth have enough room, whether habits like thumb sucking are affecting how the mouth develops, and how the face and bite are maturing as your child grows.
Think of it as a timeline of your child’s oral development with checkpoints along the way. When something shifts unexpectedly, the dentist can flag it early and talk with you about whether watching, guidance, early treatment, or a referral is the right next step. Because children’s jaws are still growing, problems caught early can often be handled with simpler approaches that work with that growth.
For families coming from communities like Aliso Viejo, Mission Viejo, or Laguna Hills, all appointments take place at the Laguna Niguel office on La Paz Road.
Growth monitoring usually happens during your child’s routine checkups, with a closer focus on development than a standard cleaning visit. Each observation is compared with earlier visits, so the dentist can see trends rather than a single snapshot.
During the checkup, the dentist looks at:
When the dentist needs to see developing teeth that have not come in yet, tooth roots, or bone, digital x-rays may be taken based on what the exam shows.
Healthy teeth and gums are the foundation for any future orthodontic care, so cavities and gum health are checked at the same time.
Only a dental exam can confirm a bite or jaw concern, but parents often notice the first clues. Many orthodontic problems are not obvious while a child still has baby teeth, so even teeth that look straight to you can benefit from a professional check.
Some spacing between baby teeth is normal and actually helps make room for the larger permanent teeth. What matters is the overall pattern as your child grows.
Signs worth mentioning to the dentist include:
Trouble chewing or biting, or avoiding certain foods
Regular mouth breathing, especially during sleep
Obvious crowding, or large gaps between the permanent teeth
Losing baby teeth much earlier or later than other children the same age
A jaw that shifts to one side, clicks, or makes noise
If thumb sucking, pacifier use, or tongue thrusting continues past the preschool years, oral habit counseling can help before the habit affects how the teeth and jaw develop.
Slots for emergency dental visits available today. Don't let your child's dental pain wait. Call or text us now!
The American Association of Orthodontists recommends that children have their first orthodontic check no later than age 7. That can seem early, since most seven-year-olds still have a mix of baby and permanent teeth, but that mix is exactly what makes the timing useful.
By around age 7, the first permanent molars and front teeth have usually come in. That lets the dentist see how the bite fits together, whether the arches have enough space, and whether the jaws are growing evenly, which is not possible with baby teeth alone.
A first evaluation does not mean treatment is needed. In many cases it confirms that development is on track and sets a baseline for future preventive checkups.
Sometimes it can. When certain bite problems, jaw differences, or severe crowding show up while a child still has both baby and permanent teeth, early treatment, often called Phase I or interceptive treatment, can address them while the jaw is still growing. A crossbite caught at this stage, for example, may be corrected with a simple appliance.
Not every child needs early treatment. Many are simply followed through growth and start comprehensive orthodontic care once their permanent teeth are in. When the findings call for it, the team refers you to a trusted orthodontist and coordinates closely so care stays consistent.
When a baby tooth is lost early to decay or injury, space maintainers hold the gap open so the permanent tooth has room to come in.
For most children, growth monitoring happens at the regular checkups the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends about every six months. Children being watched for a specific concern, such as a developing crossbite or a missing tooth, may be seen more often.
Consistency matters more than any single visit. Every checkup adds to your child’s developmental record, and that history lets the dentist spot trends and make better-informed recommendations as your child grows.
Children who play sports also face a higher risk of dental injuries that can affect how teeth are positioned, and custom mouthguards help protect a developing smile.
Pediatric Dentist & Practice Owner
Board Certified Pediatric Dentist
Diplomate by American Board of
Pediatric Dentistry
Pediatric Dentist & Practice Owner
Board Certified Pediatric Dentist
Diplomate by American Board of
Pediatric Dentistry
Kidz Modern Dentistry works with most major dental insurance plans, and the team verifies your benefits before the appointment so you know what to expect. Exams and x-rays used for growth monitoring are often covered as preventive care, while orthodontic treatment coverage varies by plan. For families without dental insurance, the KMD Total Care membership plans are available as an alternative. The plan details are listed further down this page. To ask about coverage or to schedule your child’s growth checkup, contact our Laguna Niguel office by phone or through the online booking form.
Experience total freedom in your child’s dental care. Our membership removes the barriers found in traditional insurance — no caps, no delays, and no denials. Review the benefits and exclusions to see how effortless care can be.
Common questions parents ask, answered by our pediatric dental experts.
No. Monitoring is not a precursor to any specific treatment. Many children who are followed through regular growth assessments never require orthodontic appliances beyond observation. The purpose of monitoring is to watch how development unfolds so that if intervention ever becomes appropriate, it is timely and well-informed. Some children do go on to benefit from orthodontic care, but that decision is made based on clinical findings, not as a default outcome of monitoring.
Yes, and this is one of the most important points parents often miss. Many orthodontic concerns, including skeletal jaw discrepancies, impacted teeth, and bite problems, are not visible to the untrained eye, especially when a child still has baby teeth. A visual check at home cannot reveal how the jaws are relating to each other, whether a permanent tooth is developing in an unusual position, or whether the arch is developing with enough room. Only a clinical evaluation with appropriate imaging can provide that level of insight.
A routine dental visit typically focuses on cleaning, cavity detection, and preventive treatments like fluoride and sealants. A growth monitoring visit has a broader developmental focus. It involves assessing the jaw relationship, eruption timing, arch dimensions, and any functional concerns such as mouth breathing or oral habits. At many pediatric dental practices, elements of growth monitoring are integrated into routine visits, but for children with specific concerns, a dedicated assessment may be scheduled.
There is no fixed age. The appropriate timing for any orthodontic treatment depends on the nature of the concern, how much jaw growth remains, and the child's overall dental development. Some Phase One interventions are most effective between ages 7 and 10 because they can use remaining jaw growth. Comprehensive treatment that addresses tooth alignment in a full permanent dentition typically begins between ages 11 and 14, though individual variation is significant. Your dental team will guide you based on your child's specific clinical picture.
Coverage for orthodontic evaluations and treatment varies widely among dental insurance plans. Many plans include periodic examinations and X-rays as part of preventive benefits, which cover the diagnostic aspects of growth monitoring. Orthodontic treatment coverage, if included, often begins at a specified age and may carry waiting periods or lifetime maximums. We encourage families to review their specific plan details and speak with our team, who can help clarify what is included and what out-of-pocket considerations apply.
Prolonged oral habits can influence the shape of the dental arches and the position of the teeth. The AAPD recommends discussing these habits with a dental provider if they continue past age 3 to 4 [3]. In most cases, if a habit stops by age 4, the teeth and jaw often self-correct. When habits persist into the primary or early mixed dentition phase, they may contribute to open bites, crossbites, or arch narrowing that benefit from monitoring and sometimes guidance or appliance therapy.
The relationship between jaw structure, airway, and speech is well-recognized in the clinical literature. A narrow upper arch, for example, can contribute to a high palate that affects tongue positioning during speech and can reduce nasal airway volume. An open bite may make it difficult to pronounce certain sounds correctly [8]. These are not reasons to panic, but they are reasons to have jaw and dental development assessed by a professional who can determine whether any structural factors are contributing to functional concerns your child experiences.
Longer reads from our pediatric dental team, for parents who want the detail behind the visit.
What Are Gaps Between Baby Teeth? Are Gaps Between Baby Teeth Normal? Why Spaced Baby Teeth Actually Matter for Permanent...
Read More: Should I Worry If My Child Has Gaps Between Their Baby Teeth?
What Are “Shark Teeth” in Children? Why Do Adult Teeth Come in Behind Baby Teeth? Understanding Normal Tooth Eruption in...
Read More: Why Are My Child’s Adult Teeth Coming in Behind the Baby Teeth?
What does a double row of teeth in a child mean? Why do shark teeth in kids happen? When is...
Read More: Why Does My Child Have a Double Row of Teeth? Understanding Shark Teeth in KidsSlots for emergency dental visits available today. Don't let your child's dental pain wait. Call or text us now!
We serve families from Southern Orange County, Laguna Niguel, Laguna Beach, Aliso Viejo, Laguna Hills, Mission Viejo, San Juan Capistrano and surrounding communities with comprehensive pediatric dental care.
Monday - Thursday: 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday: 8:30 AM - 4:00 PM
Saturday: Closed
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