Braces are important for helping teeth to align properly. If your teeth come through at different angles, it can be painful, and it can also cause difficulties in chewing and speaking. Braces work to both straighten teeth and move them into a new position, so that they don’t push against each other, or leave wide gaps. If you have crooked teeth or an overbite, braces can help. But, what is the best age to get braces?
The Best Age to Get Braces
Everybody is different, so there is no set-in-stone age for getting braces. When considering if it is the right time, you need to know the status of your teeth. An appointment with an orthodontist at an early age is the most successful way to track growth of the teeth.
There are two kinds of teeth that orthodontists consider when deciding on treatment with braces:
- The 12-year molars – also called second molars, these are permanent teeth that tend to erupt between the ages of 11 and 13. It is better if these teeth are present before you get braces.
- Primary teeth – you’ve probably heard these called baby teeth. Even though braces can be put on when you still have primary teeth, it can result in lengthier treatment times since the adult teeth still need to come through. Overall, it is often better to wait until all the primary teeth have fallen out. However, not in all cases.
How Many Teeth Must You Lose to Get Braces?
There is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question. Orthodontists often prefer kids to wait until all their baby teeth have gone, but there are cases where kids need braces earlier to addresses issues like severe under or overbites, overcrowding of teeth, or the abnormal growth of the jaw.
In such instances, getting braces can help to clear the way in the mouth for the adult teeth to come in safely and with the right amount of space.
A proactive approach is to book your child in for a consultation with an orthodontist at age 7. This is so an orthodontist can prevent any issues that look as though they could arise in the future. They will also advise on the best age to get braces. But what if you missed this chance when you were a child? No matter, orthodontic treatments can be performed on any one, at any age. If you need treatment, any age is best age to get braces!
If you or your child need orthodontic treatment, book an appointment at Evolution Orthodontics to discuss your treatment options with braces or clear aligners.