3 Year Old to Orthodontist??

personally I would get a "consultation" and then use common sense and good parenting skills-

As the pp said they may just want to monitor it and there is nothing wrong with that. Thumb sucking is a major problem as far teeth are concerned and braces will fix it but the time in them is prolonged, the mode of fixing becomes more painful and other obstacles become prevelent...

That all being said- I think as parents we like to jump on things good or bad- and sometimes we just need to listen and wait to see what they say. Our orthodontist gave us tips for getting our son off the binky (I was in braces it was not even for him) and they worked.

He has been in his field, been around the block and remember you can always say NO to any procedures or testing he wants that your not comfortable with.

Good luck-

Hello L. -
Well, I've seen a few of the other responses. I guess I'm the rebel on this one...I have spent nearly 25 years in the dental field. And I am a parent of a child with orthodontic issues...Take your son for an evaluation by a board certified Orthodontist! The orthodontist my 3 year daughter has seen since she was 18 months old doesn't want to do treatment yet but is monitoring her natural development. By charting this it could very well make her treatment later on easier. At least go and speak to the professional. There is no harm in that.
L.
P.S. My daughter really enjoys her check ups to both the dentist & orthodontist. :o)

I think being informed about your child's health is important and you are only going for a consult.

My daughter was 2 when she went to the dentist for the first time and it was only for an exam of her teeth, they did nothing more than count them and give me tips on her care. She didn't get a cleaning or anything.

There are children's dentist and I'm sure most ortho's deal with kids!

absolutely not! I think 3 is too too young for all of that. your child has so much growing to do. Worry about fixing your child's teeth with the orthodontist when he is 11 or 12 years of age, by then all of his baby teeth will have fallen out and new adult teeth can come in. who knows, maybe when those come in it won't be so bad or need so much work. why put your little one through that if he dosen't NEED it right away??? Plus I know the pain of any orthodontic work and it was unbearable when I was 14 and 15 I couldn't imagine being 3.

I think I would be finding a new dentist.

Reasons Why Taking a 3yr old to an orthodontist is a bad Idea

1. There will be many x-rays that your child we have to be very very still for
2. There will be a mouth form made out of plaster like stuff that your child will have to have his mouth held open for and sit with stuff in his mouth without moving for several minutes (I believe 5-10min)
3. Your childs mouth is still growing and changing.
4. How are you going to KEEP the appliance in the childs mouth?
5. This experience could be traumatic for him, and make him afraid of the dentist.

Hi L.! Have you mentioned that to your ped???? I think that is crazy! I wouldn't want to put my 3 yr old through that. I think 3 is absolutely too young. I'd run it by your dr. and then think about switching dentists!!
If you speak to your dr. let us know his/her opinion on it! I'm curious as to what they say! ; )
~L.