Is There a Best Age for Getting Braces?

As a parent, it’s natural to be concerned about your child’s smile. You wonder if they need any dental treatments to keep their teeth healthy.

Every child has unique dental needs. If your child is prone to decay and cavities or has misaligned or crooked teeth, they’ll likely need dental procedures.

As for orthodontic care, it’s best to see a trusted orthodontist near you to find out the optimal age at which your child can start receiving treatments if they require them.

Is This Your Child’s First Time Visiting an Orthodontist in Kitchener, ON? 

At Orthodontic Smile Studio, we welcome children and teens and are happy to work with parents and guardians to protect their smiles. 

Children can start going to the orthodontic office at age 7. But not to worry, as this doesn’t necessarily mean they’re immediately getting treatments. We first perform evaluations and get to know our young patients better.

Get in touch with us today to learn more about how a child’s first orthodontic visit goes.

Does My Child Need Braces?

Are there signs that your child needs braces? You may be able to determine whether your child needs them by observing how their teeth align. Once they turn 7, check if they have protruding, crowded, crooked, or uneven teeth. These are some signs they may benefit from orthodontic care.

Pay attention as well to their chewing and speaking difficulties. Note if they have trouble eating, pronouncing words or certain sounds, and whether they feel pain or discomfort when they bite down.

Adult teeth, or permanent teeth, can continue to move after they come in, so ages 7–14 can be an ideal time to see the orthodontist for guidance on how to correct any misalignment issues.

Is There a Specific Age for Getting Braces?

Children can start receiving braces around the age when their permanent teeth are already starting to erupt. They can go as early as age 7 for their first visit to the orthodontist.

Your orthodontist will examine the development of your child's mouth and jaw and see if potential issues will require an orthodontic appliance or a dental procedure to correct. For instance, crowded teeth may warrant a tooth extraction to fix them so the rest of the teeth can move to their ideal position.

During your child's orthodontic visits, you'll also be asked about their habits. Children can have habits that impact their tooth alignment, such as thumb sucking and mouth breathing. Your child may also need X-rays taken so your orthodontist can check how the adult teeth will erupt and if there are spaces for them.

Are Braces the Right Treatment for My Child?

The best way to find out is to consult an orthodontist. As soon as you spot potential problems, schedule your child for an orthodontic assessment. 

These visits are crucial so your child can meet the dental team, become familiar with the dental office, and feel at ease during appointments. Getting them started with dental care early can help prevent them from developing anxiety or fear toward it.

At Orthodontic Smile Studio, we work with you to ensure pleasant dental office visits for your child and the rest of your family. Our child-friendly orthodontic office in Kitchener, ON, provides a wide range of orthodontic services that children and teens may need.

Orthodontic Treatments for Children in Kitchener, ON

Not all children will need orthodontic procedures. Monitoring their habits and mouth development contributes to making this happen. 

When you see us at Orthodontic Smile Studio, we can work together to develop a custom treatment plan for your child, including a timeline for when we're getting started. We keep you informed at every stage of the procedure as well as discuss with you the best age to commence treatments.

To summarize, the best age to get braces depends on the child, but sometimes therapies or habit correction are enough to correct or prevent misalignment issues. The advantage of an early start is that this phase is when the teeth and jaw are conducive to reshaping or molding.

Contact us today to request your child’s complimentary orthodontic consultation.

Reference:

1. How Can We Reduce Dental Fear in Children? The Importance of the First Dental Visit

https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9067/8/12/1167

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