Now Offering Free Orthodontic Consultations!
Some children have adult teeth that are healthy and tooth decay-free but grow crooked into their mouths. If this describes your child, braces and other orthodontic treatments can correct any tooth, jaw, or mouth alignment issues that interfere with your child’s teeth functionality and beautiful smile.
Orthodontist Gina Gill, DMD, and the pediatric dental team at Yorktown Pediatric Dentistry in Yorktown Heights, New York, recommend children get evaluated for and start braces as soon as possible for the best treatment outcomes. Find the best age for your child to begin braces and other orthodontic treatments.
Anyone can benefit from braces or orthodontics if they have problems with their permanent teeth, such as crookedness, overcrowded teeth, or a jaw overbite or underbite. Older teenagers and even adults can correct previously unaddressed issues with braces or other treatments.
However, starting orthodontic treatment as young as possible offers the greatest benefits to your child. By correcting teeth problems early, your child can get faster relief from issues caused by orthodontic issues, including speaking, eating, and self-consciousness about a crooked smile.
Orthodontic problems are also easier to correct when your child is younger. Teeth and jaws are more responsive to treatment when your child is still growing, making treatment simpler and faster than in older patients.
Even though not all children benefit from braces at the same age, our team recommends staying on top of your child’s orthodontic needs to ensure they get started with braces as soon as possible. In the meantime, our team can monitor your child, give care advice, and potentially perform other orthodontic treatments.
You should schedule your child’s first orthodontic consultation by the time they turn seven. Children have a mix of baby and adult teeth by this age, and our team can evaluate their teeth and jaw development.
All children should have early orthodontic screenings, even if they have no visible signs of teeth misalignment. Some orthodontic needs are subtle and not easy to detect visually. Your child could also develop orthodontic issues at an older age.
On the other hand, if your child has obvious signs of misalignment, you don’t need to wait until they’re seven to take them in for an orthodontic consultation. Our team can start making a treatment plan at any age.
The best age to start your child on braces depends on their teeth' development and specific orthodontic needs. Children don’t usually get braces when they have only baby teeth.
Once their adult teeth start to develop, some orthodontic issues can be addressed immediately. Some children benefit from getting braces right away when they have a combination of baby and adult teeth.
Other children are better off waiting until they have most of their adult teeth to get braces. In this case, our team sometimes performs other orthodontic treatments or monitors your child until they’re ready for braces.
Although the right age for braces ranges between children, it’s never too soon to have their orthodontic needs evaluated. Contact us to make an orthodontic appointment for your child.
