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The Dental Milestones Every Parent Should Know: Ages 1, 7 & 15
Dr. Keith Schneider joined New Day Cleveland to walk parents through the three ages when a child’s teeth need an expert look, and why starting early makes every visit after it easier.
The short answer
Children should see a dentist by age 1, get an orthodontic evaluation by age 7, and have their wisdom teeth evaluated around age 15. On New Day Cleveland, board-certified oral and maxillofacial surgeon Dr. Keith Schneider explained the milestones campaign behind those three ages, which line up with the recommendations of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, the American Association of Orthodontists, and the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons.
Three ages, three checkups
Each milestone comes from the professional group that cares for that stage of a child’s mouth.
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Age 1
First dental visit
Recommended by the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry
Bring your child in by their first birthday. Early visits build habits like massaging the gums and getting used to brushing, and they help kids grow up without a fear of the dentist.
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Age 7
Orthodontic evaluation
Recommended by the American Association of Orthodontists
By age 7, a dentist can see how the jaws and teeth are developing, including whether teeth are coming in as expected or starting to become misaligned. It isn’t usually about starting braces. It’s about knowing what’s ahead.
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Age 15
Wisdom teeth evaluation
Recommended by the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
An oral surgeon evaluates the wisdom teeth around age 15, and removal is usually targeted between 15 and 25, when recovery is easiest. About 80% of people will need their wisdom teeth out at some point.
Wisdom teeth removal in Mentor
“We’re long past letting sleeping dogs lie with wisdom teeth.”
Questions parents ask about these milestones
When should my child first see a dentist?
By age 1. The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends a first visit by a child’s first birthday so families can start good habits early, like massaging the gums and brushing, and so children get comfortable at the dentist before fear sets in.
At what age should a child get an orthodontic evaluation?
Age 7. The American Association of Orthodontists recommends an orthodontic evaluation at age 7, when a dentist can check how the jaws and teeth are developing and spot teeth that are becoming misaligned or not coming in as expected. Treatment like braces isn’t always recommended at that point.
When should wisdom teeth be evaluated?
Around age 15. The American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons highlights a wisdom teeth evaluation at age 15, and removal is usually targeted between ages 15 and 25. Learn more about wisdom teeth removal.
Why is it better to remove wisdom teeth at a younger age?
Recovery is much easier the younger you are. Dr. Schneider notes that about 80% of people will need their wisdom teeth removed at some point, so evaluating them in the teen years lets families plan surgery for the time it heals best.
Do I need a referral to see an oral surgeon?
Most patients at Ohio’s Center for Oral, Facial & Dental Implant Surgery are referred by their general dentist, and the practice works closely with dental and medical colleagues in both directions. You can also contact the office directly to ask about an evaluation.
Where is Ohio’s Center for Oral, Facial & Dental Implant Surgery located?
The practice has three offices and five surgeons serving Northeast Ohio, in Mentor, Highland Heights, and Bainbridge.
Full transcript Lightly edited for readability.
Host: He makes our smiles better, but he’s here to tell us about some really important milestones in our lives. So here to discuss the national children’s oral health campaign is Dr. Keith Schneider from Ohio’s Center for Oral, Facial and Dental Implant Surgery. Thank you for coming back. It’s good to see you.
Dr. Keith Schneider: So great to see you. Thanks.
Host: When you’re on, we always learn a lot, and there are so many good ways that you help the community. But today you wanted to specifically focus on the younger generation. I mean, we’re talking about a year old, thinking about our dental health.
Dr. Keith Schneider: Yeah. The milestones campaign is super exciting. It’s a great initiative to help educate parents and guardians on really prioritizing your health at certain ages. So yeah, it starts at age one. The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry wants you to get your kids in at age one to start developing great habits and, you know, getting used to massaging the gums and getting used to brushing and things like that.
Host: And that’s something people probably don’t necessarily think about, because I think when you’re that young, you’re going to lose those teeth anyway, so it doesn’t matter. But it clearly does matter at that stage.
Dr. Keith Schneider: Yes, it really helps with, you know, decreasing the fear of going in to see the dentist, so you create good habits at age one.
Host: That’s true, too, because I’m not going to lie, for me, the doctor I was most afraid of going to growing up was the dentist’s office. I don’t know, something about it freaked me out. But when you start when they’re small, it conditions them to feel comfortable doing so. So this makes perfect sense. When would be the next milestone after a year old?
Dr. Keith Schneider: Yeah, so the milestones campaign really highlights ages 1, 7, and 15. So that next milestone is at age 7, where the American Association of Orthodontists really suggests that you get in for an orthodontic evaluation.
Host: At 7?
Dr. Keith Schneider: To detect jaw and teeth development.
Host: So at that point you wouldn’t necessarily be recommending that something be done, like braces, but just understanding what the future might hold?
Dr. Keith Schneider: Kind of, yeah. It’s, you know, picking up some things that can happen at around age 7. We’re starting to see whether things are developing the way they’re supposed to, or the teeth are becoming misaligned, or teeth are not coming in the way that we expected them to.
Host: And then 15, you said, is next.
Dr. Keith Schneider: Yeah, so that’s where I come into play.
Host: Although you deal with children before 15 when situations arise, and you’re there for that.
Dr. Keith Schneider: So, yeah, the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, that’s who I represent. You know, we highlight getting your wisdom teeth evaluated at age 15, so we’re usually targeting between 15 and 25 to get the wisdom teeth out. So that’s the best time to come in for an evaluation.
Host: Yeah. And why is that important, to evaluate them and make sure they need to be removed? What damage could be done if they’re not removed at the time when it should be done?
Dr. Keith Schneider: Well, we’re long past letting sleeping dogs lie with wisdom teeth. We know that about 80% of us will need our wisdom teeth out at some point. And the recovery is so much better the younger you are. Having that done as a teenager, we like it easy and comfortable.
Host: Because the older we get, the more we become babies about it, so you’re recommending getting them out early. But what other recommendations, quickly, do you have for adults as far as maintaining things? And when should they come to you for assistance, or do they need to speak to their general dentist first before coming your way?
Dr. Keith Schneider: Yeah, most of our patients are getting referred from general dentists to us, and really the connection with our colleagues, with our dental and medical colleagues, is really near and dear to us. We love collaborating. And so it’s a nice two-way street. Sometimes we’re seeing patients for the first time and referring them over there, or they’re getting referred to us.
Host: Where’s your office? Where are you located?
Dr. Keith Schneider: So we have three offices and we have five surgeons: Mentor, Highland Heights, and Bainbridge. And we’re just an incredible team. We love taking care of patients.
Host: Well, you do it with such a smile, and as a parent, you make it less intimidating to think about good oral health, I will say. So if you are looking for someone as an adult and you need assistance, you can always go to OHSurgery.com, Dr. Schneider’s site. And I think it’s just a great reminder to talk about these milestones. When you’re young, we’ve got to start everything when you’re young, right?
Is your teen due for a wisdom teeth evaluation?
Our surgeons see patients in Mentor, Highland Heights, and Bainbridge. Reach out to schedule an evaluation or ask a question.