What's the best age for braces?
Early, late, or irregular loss of baby teeth
Difficulty in chewing or biting
Mouth breathing
Thumb or finger sucking
Crowded, misplaced, or blocked-out teeth
Jaws that shift, make sounds, protrude, or are recessed
Biting the cheek or roof of the mouth
Teeth that meet abnormally or not at all
Jaws and teeth that are out of proportion to the rest of the face
Are a few of the most common problems that require an Orthodontic treatment. The majority of growing children with above problems would benefit from orthodontic treatment but what's the best age for braces? Still remains as a big question in the mind of anxious parents.
The answer is that it simply depends on several factors that are taken into consideration before making a decision to start orthodontic treatment for your child. But before we get into that, there are three important things you should know:
1. Permanent teeth start growing around age 6
The first permanent teeth to grow are the first molars which grow behind the very last baby molars. Central incisors (front teeth) are the first teeth to replace baby teeth.
2. It takes around 5-6 years to complete the transition from baby to permanent teeth
Most children get their full set of permanent teeth around age 12-13.
3. A child's age is not always an accurate indicator of dental development
This means that some children develop and grow their teeth quickly while others require extra time. It is not uncommon to see a 9 year-old child with a full set of permanent teeth and a 15 year-old with several baby teeth in his/her mouth. There are a variety of causes for delayed dental development and in most cases they are not a concern as long as permanent teeth grow eventually.
Every child should be seen by an orthodontist at age 7
The Orthodontists recommend an orthodontic screening and evaluation for all children 7 years or older. This does not necessarily mean that your 7-year old child will always need braces! In fact, orthodontic treatment is most likely not necessary at this age. Nonetheless, we recommend a thorough evaluation to rule out certain tooth growth and bite problems which may require an early intervention. So it’s better to get checked early than late.
Orthodontic treatment for younger children is not always recommended
There are specific indications for early orthodontic treatment. Which can be categorized as Phase I and Phase II. In Phase I, where children are in still growth phase, with the help of some appliances, growth modification is expected. But the second phase of braces treatment would be inevitable, but the severity depends on the extent of Phase I outcome.
However, even if its not recommended treatment at this age, they can observe and monitor your child’s dental growth until he/she is ready for orthodontic treatment. This is called as growth guidance.
The best age for most children to get braces is right before losing their last set of baby teeth
The best age for braces (Fixed orthodontic treatment) is right before your child loses his/her last set of baby molars. This varies but is usually between 12-14 years old for most children. Starting treatment too early (too many baby teeth present) may result in inappropriate results. On the other hand, starting treatment too late can make certain treatment options that rely on jaw growth more difficult and sometimes impossible without jaw surgery. The only way to avoid these issues is to see the dentist on a regular basis for growth guidance and start treatment at the right time.
Starting orthodontic treatment at the right time improves treatment results.
With proper diagnosis and planning, orthodontic treatment can be easier, more comfortable and shorter in duration. On the other hand, poor timing may result in less than satisfactory results.
For adults, the best age for braces is "as soon as possible"!
Teeth continue shifting throughout life and in addition to the cosmetic impact, crooked teeth can be very destructive to your teeth and oral health. Adult orthodontics is gaining popularity especially because of the increased awareness and more discreet treatment options such as Invisalign. As an adult, you should start your orthodontic treatment as soon as it becomes feasible to you. The reasons are simple: orthodontic problems never get better on their own and almost always get worse with time. Orthodontic treatment becomes more complex as new issues arise with age including other dental problems and health problems. Nowadays consultations for adults are easily available with treatments as basic as braces and as advanced as Invisalign for adults.
So don’t wait up. Book an appointment now!