{"id":759,"date":"2019-05-17T15:34:17","date_gmt":"2019-05-17T19:34:17","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.skororthodontics.com\/blog\/?p=759"},"modified":"2019-05-17T15:34:34","modified_gmt":"2019-05-17T19:34:34","slug":"best-age-for-braces","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.skororthodontics.com\/blog\/best-age-for-braces\/","title":{"rendered":"What\u2019s the Best Age for Braces for Children? How Early Can My Child Start?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Healthy mouths support healthy lives. Part of a healthy mouth is proper development with teeth aligned<\/a>, allowing for ideal bone and gum growth. But when your child is showing signs that they may need orthodontic treatment, when is it time to assess the problem? Determining the right age for braces can be difficult \u2013 but that\u2019s why your dentist and orthodontist are there to help!<\/p>\n

Your Child\u2019s First Orthodontic Assessment<\/h2>\n

When deciding what the right age for braces is, it\u2019s important to remember every person is unique \u2013 that goes for their teeth, too! When your child begins to develop their adult teeth won\u2019t be a perfect timeline.<\/p>\n

Orthodontists recommend children have an orthodontic assessment by age seven<\/a>. While your child may not have all of their permanent teeth by this age, they should have enough of them for your orthodontist to get an idea of how their dental development is proceeding.<\/p>\n

You typically will ask their dentist for their recommendation or referral. At this assessment, they can determine potential risk factors and begin planning for orthodontic treatment if necessary.<\/p>\n

The Most Common Age for Braces is Around 10-12<\/h2>\n

If an assessment determines that your child would benefit from orthodontic treatment, their recommended age for braces will likely be between ages 10-12. This won\u2019t be true for every person, but it is the most common age to start treatment.<\/p>\n

Beginning treatment at this time gives orthodontists a chance to correct development issues from misaligned bites or teeth before they\u2019re done growing. It\u2019s much easier to approach these issues then, and can prevent future issues associated with poor jaw or general oral development.<\/p>\n

Early Intervention Orthodontic Treatment<\/h2>\n

For some cases, an orthodontist may recommend early orthodontic intervention. This means treatment that takes place prior to all of your child\u2019s permanent teeth erupting<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Early treatment is used to prevent issues related to your child\u2019s jaw and facial bone development. When corrected early, they not only improve the future growth of your child\u2019s oral development, they can make later orthodontic treatment easier or even unnecessary!<\/p>\n

Common Issues that Lead to Braces at an Early Age<\/h2>\n

Crowded or Spaced Teeth<\/h3>\n

The position of your teeth in relation to each other is a critical part of development. If they\u2019re too close together to align correctly, this is known as crowding. If they\u2019re spaced too far apart, leaving major gaps, this is called spacing.<\/p>\n

In either case, braces can shift your teeth into their ideal position<\/a>, allowing the teeth around them to have room to align properly and eliminate major gaps. In addition to being aesthetically pleasing, this prevents issues with your bite and helps to avoid difficult-to-brush areas of your mouth that may lead to serious cavity issues.<\/p>\n

Crossbites, Overbites & Underbites<\/h3>\n

Bite problems are common in people of any age<\/a>. There are a handful of bite alignment concerns, but these are the most likely your child may experience:<\/p>\n

Crossbite \u2013<\/strong> When some of the upper teeth bite on the inside of the lower teeth.<\/p>\n

Overbite \u2013<\/strong> When the upper front teeth bite in front of the lower front teeth.<\/p>\n

Underbite \u2013<\/strong> When the lower front teeth bite in front of the upper front teeth.<\/p>\n

All types of bite alignment issues open up the possibility of mild to severe dental risks, including:<\/p>\n