A child can get braces even if they still have baby teeth left! In fact, the American Association of Orthodontics recommends screenings by age 7. Our orthodontist, Dr. Andrea Font, customizes each treatment plan based on a child's specific needs.
This often leaves parents wondering, can you get braces with baby teeth? The short answer: Yes, we can start treatment while baby teeth are in. There is a common misconception that all permanent teeth need to be in before any orthodontic treatment can be started. But that's not the case.
While you do not have to wait for the adult teeth to grow in, most dentists and orthodontists prefer to wait for the majority of baby teeth to fall out. If your child has lost all but one or two of their baby teeth, it may be time to think about braces.
It is also possible that a child will lose teeth while wearing braces. In this case, the orthodontist will remove the bracket or band from the loose tooth so that it can fall out, and, if necessary, will reapply the bracket once the new tooth comes in.
“The younger your child is, the easier orthodontic treatment can be for several reasons,” says Dr. Salmassian. “But the most important reason is that the jaw is still growing, giving us the chance to guide its development to ensure we can reduce crowding and help the permanent teeth erupt properly.”
Some children start their orthodontic treatment as young as six. However, most agree that the best age to get braces or another form of treatment is between the ages of 8 and 14, which is when the head and mouth are most conducive to straightening.
Orthodontic treatment is designed to work with a mixed dentition, or a growing mouth of baby teeth and permanent teeth, so braces at age 7 or 8 is possible!
In virtually all cases, the baby tooth will fall out on its own because the roots will dissolve on their own.
There is no fixed age for acquiring braces. Orthodontists decide on a case by case basis when it is best to begin treatment. Usually, children between the ages of nine and 14 can get braces, because the child will have some permanent teeth at this point.
Can teeth be too weak for braces? Sometimes, your dental team will tell you that your teeth are too weak for braces if you have large cavities. In these cases, dental fillings, root canals, and crowns may be suggested before the start of any orthodontic treatment.
Yes, children can definitely wear braces with some baby teeth remaining. Children won't need braces when they have only baby teeth, but it may be the right course of action in some cases where a child has mixed baby and permanent teeth. That's the short answer.
But teeth continue to shift as we age, so there's never a time when braces won't work. Braces adjust teeth by putting pressure on them, and this pressure works even after bones have stopped growing. It takes longer to straighten teeth in adults because bones are more solid. Still, braces are effective at any age.
Milk teeth start to fall out when the jaw begins to grow. A child's teeth are not meant to be permanent – they are temporary, and no milk tooth will end up as a permanent tooth. The milk teeth can start erupting at just 5 months of age, which can be a painful issue for breastfeeding mothers.
Compared to adult teeth, baby teeth are more susceptible to decay because they have a thinner layer of enamel, the hard outer surface of the teeth.
If the tooth is dry for more than 15 minutes, it's much less likely to be saved. However, if it's put in milk within five minutes of being knocked out, the tooth root's cells can survive for 30-60 minutes.
For children, most get braces between 9 and 14 years old. But adults can benefit from orthodontia as well, and there's no right or wrong age for adults to get braces. As a general rule, once the adult teeth are in, braces are possible.
It's never too late to achieve a straighter smile. But for kids, braces treatment usually begins in the age range of 9 to 14. Many kids don't need braces until all their adult teeth have come in around age 12 or 13, but some kids that still have baby teeth benefit from early orthodontic intervention.
On average, it takes about 24 months to complete an orthodontic treatment. Some patients require less than 12 months, but there are also patients requiring up to 3 years of treatment before their teeth reach the desired position. Orthodontics is not a one-size-fits-all solution and each patient's mouth is unique.
By the time a child is 12, most have lost all of their baby teeth. If they haven't lost all of their teeth at this point there isn't necessarily a problem, but it never hurts to have it looked at by a dentist if they get closer to 14 or 15 years old as it could be an underlying problem.
During an extraction, we will numb the treatment area to prevent your child from feeling pain. Then, we will loosen the tooth with an instrument called an elevator and use forceps to remove the tooth from the socket.
How Early Can Kids Start Braces? Traditionally, treatment with dental braces begins when a child has lost most of his or her baby (primary) teeth, and a majority of the adult (permanent) teeth have grown in —usually between the ages of 8 and 14.
The simple answer is that at this age, our goal is to set the child up for all permanent teeth to come in and upper and lower jaws to grow normally. If there is something that will potentially get in the way of this happening, early orthodontic treatment (called Phase 1 treatment) is recommended.
Are you wondering whether it is time to get braces for your child? There are 4.5 million Americans wearing braces with 80 percent of those ranging in age from 6 to 18!
The honest answer is that braces do not hurt at all when they are applied to the teeth, so there is no reason to be anxious. In most cases, there is mild soreness or discomfort after the orthodontic wire is engaged into the brackets, which may last for a few days.