Dental Braces: What’s The Best Age To Get One?

Achieving that beautiful smile can be expensive, especially if you have crooked teeth. However, you must know that having that kind of teeth is entirely normal– you are a human, after all. However, neglecting your kid’s dental issues may pose a risk to their dental health upon growing. If your kid has misaligned teeth, they probably need dental braces. Some parents are worried about this: “should my child get orthodontic braces even at a young age?”

But what’s the best age to get one? Is there an ideal age for it? Continue reading below to find out!

Best Age for Braces

Children are unique, which means their mouths develop differently. It is during childhood that children’s teeth, mouth, and jaws undergo many changes. You may notice issues with the alignment of their teeth and bite as they grow. The most common orthodontic problems will become apparent when your child is seven years old.

You should evaluate concerns like crooked and crowded teeth, protruding teeth, underbite, overbite and bad bite as soon as possible. An early orthodontic evaluation would be helpful. After identifying any potential growth issues, the orthodontist will develop a treatment plan that may even allow you to accelerate the treatment procedure once you begin. Following your initial orthodontic consultation, you won’t have to worry about when your child should begin wearing braces since they will keep you updated.

Your dentist will provide you with different braces your child can choose from or various orthodontic treatment options if getting braces is out of your budget or your child is not yet ready for it. Moreover, the ideal age for braces or other therapy is between 8 and 14 when the head and mouth are most receptive to straightening. But there are some cases where kids start their orthodontic treatment as early as six years old.

Don’t worry about the treatment, as your dentist will guide and assist you throughout the process.

Read More: A Guide on Types of Pediatric Braces

Signs Your Child Is Ready For Braces

Do you think your kid is a candidate for braces? It would be best to talk to an orthodontist and ask for their professional suggestions on when your child should get braces treatments. Here are three signs you should look for to know if your child is ready for getting one.

Loss of baby teeth

While it is not required, most orthodontists prefer to wait until the bulk of baby teeth have fallen out. If your child has lost all of their baby teeth but one or two, braces may be an option. If you think your kid may require braces, schedule an appointment with an orthodontist as soon as the first adult teeth appear. 

Teeth may be damaged

The last indicator that your kid needs braces is if the adult teeth are damaged. Braces can be placed on kids as young as seven years old if their teeth are significantly crowded, crossed, or overbites. Your child may require braces for a long time or twice throughout their lives. Starting this dental treatment early only helps avoid damage to the adult teeth.

Molars are erupting

From 10 to 13 years old, most children’s 12-year molars gently erupt or come in. Most orthodontists wait until a child’s molars have at least partly flashed before placing braces on their teeth. The molars may be closer to other teeth or larger than expected, causing teeth to be pushed. If there are any gaps, the molars pushing on teeth can naturally fill them in. If you already have braces, overcrowding or tooth shifting might occur. So, wait till the molars emerge before getting braces.

Read more:  When Should My Kid Get Braces?

How Long is Orthodontic Treatment?

Most patients wear braces for at least a year, and the average is 18-30 months. Some individuals will need to wear a retainer after orthodontic braces for a more extended period.

Note that treatment time varies depending on the alignment issues. During an orthodontic consultation, the orthodontist will estimate how long braces will take to work. The timing might vary depending on the teeth’s receptivity to movement and how well they are cared for. Thus, if you want a faster treatment time, practice excellent oral hygiene and visit your dentist consistently for your brace adjustment.

Benefits of Wearing Braces

Aside from straighter teeth, here are some of the benefits you could get upon wearing braces. These are also for adults who experience misaligned teeth.

Improve overall oral health

When your teeth are crooked or crowded, they may overlap and create a little gap. Straighter teeth are simpler to clean. Braces straighten and space out your teeth, making it easier to clean them.

Boost your confidence

Bring out your confident smiles with braces. Misaligned teeth often lead to low self-esteem. Therefore, after the brace treatment, you would feel confident about your smile.

Prevent bone loss

Bad teeth often cause bone loss. Bacteria start eating away at the bones. Braces stretch periodontal ligaments and nerves. Once settled, the bones will naturally recover.

Schedule an appointment with your dentist

If this guide for braces is not enough, you may contact the best dentist in your town. If you are located in Stafford, Virginia or nearby, Dr Azar and the rest of the team are pediatric dental professionals who are happy to assist you. You will find answers to your queries about children’s dental treatment. Contact Junior Smiles of Stafford and start taking care of your dental health!