If you suspect your child needs orthodontic treatment, it's ideal to see an orthodontist when they are between the ages of seven and nine. Even if the child only has their molars through, an orthodontist can check on the growth of the jaw and palate and loss of baby teeth.
What's the Right Age for Braces? 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.
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.
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.
Braces For Young Kids Might Not Always Be Best Orthodontists recommend that children get checked for treatment no later than age 7. But research shows waiting until kids are older may be more beneficial in the long run. In some cases, young kids could be back in braces again when they're older.
Newer technology now allows us to use patients' early growth to help correct and more importantly, prevent orthodontic problems as the child's permanent teeth begin to come in. At age 7, any growth or eruption issues are easily detected.
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!
Most Common Reasons That Children Need Braces
Delayed eruption of the upper and lower two front teeth. Existing teeth too crowded for new teeth to grow in properly. Crossbite, which means that some of the upper teeth fit behind the lower teeth when the child closes their jaws.
There is a general recommendation by the Association of Orthodontists to have your child seen by an Orthodontist by age 7. While the majority of children at this age do not need any Orthodontic treatment, there are a significant percentage that do need “early interceptive orthodontic treatment.”
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.
The ideal age to have braces is usually around 12 or 13, while a child's mouth and jaws are still growing, but it can be earlier or later.
The best age for braces teeth is between 10 and 14 years because at this age the head and mouth are still growing and teeth are more conducive to straightening. Visiting Orthodontic Experts early doesn't mean your child will get braces right away.
As teenagers grow, the greatest facial changes occur in the lower face. There is a notable increase in the distance from the nose to the chin. The amount of jaw growth a patient might experience during orthodontic care is between none at all and 3/4 of an inch.
Generally, it is best to get braces between the ages of 10 and 14 due to the structure and growth stages of the head and mouth. While the head and mouth are still growing, teeth are more adaptive to change which will ultimately make the process easier.
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 ideal age for braces
Early adolescence, or between the ages of 10 and 14, is widely considered the ideal time to get braces. That's because preteens and younger teens have all (or nearly all) of their adult teeth in place, and their softer jawbone tissue is still quite responsive to repositioning.
How long kids need to wear braces depends on the problems the orthodontist is trying to fix. The average time is about 2 years. After that, a child might wear a specially molded retainer — a small, hard piece of plastic with metal wires or a thin piece of plastic shaped like a mouthguard.
If you're wearing traditional braces with a bracket and wire system, you may notice that your lips appear to be larger. Your teeth and lips' increased width are to blame for this. Lips don't get bigger, but they can't rest as much against your teeth as they normally would until your braces are taken off.
The lower jaw, the mandible, can continue to grow more forward than the upper jaw, maxilla. This growth usually stops when the child stops growing. Remember, this is biology, so there will always be a complication! In some males they can continue to grow till the age of 25 years old!
Braces Create More Distinct Cheekbones
Overcrowding may cause your jawline to appear more pronounced, while uneven spacing makes the cheeks sink in. Orthodontists can recommend clear braces that will have a direct impact on the structure of your cheekbones and jaws.
Once your braces are placed there can be some discomfort. An over-the-counter pain reliever may be recommended; if you feel up to it, you can return to work or school. If not mandated by your school or employer, the remainder of the day may be better spent adjusting to your new braces.
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.
After tightening your braces, it is common for your teeth to feel slightly loose for the first two to three days after the adjustment. This does not imply that your tooth will become permanently loose as a result of the situation. It is not anything that ought to cause any cause for alarm.