Most people assume that the best time for braces are during the pre-teen or teenage years. However, the perfect age for braces is a matter of debate between most orthodontists. While there is no fixed answer, most agree that it’s between 10 to 14 years of age. What does help in determining the eligibility of your child really depends on a few factors. An orthodontist screening gives you the answer more accurately.
Who is an Orthodontist?
An orthodontist is a dental professional who treats kids and adults with teeth alignment problems. Some of these problems include crowded teeth, disproportionate jaw growth, improper tooth development from thumb sucking, accidents, tooth decay or losing baby teeth too early.
An experienced orthodontist can spot subtle problems while the baby teeth are still intact. Even though your child’s mouth may appear normal, orthodontists can spot developing problems before they occur and recommended dental care plans to treat the conditions, aiding the growth of healthy teeth. Early intervention can prevent many problems later. Dental problems are not only painful but also affect a child’s psychological and physiological growth.
When should your child visit an Orthodontist?
The Canadian Association of Orthodontists insists that a child should be checked by an orthodontist by the age of 7 to 9. However, earlier is better to avert potential problems before they occur or for timely treatment before the conditions worsen.
Conditions such as overcrowded teeth that leads to open bites (when upper and lower front teeth do not meet), overbites (upper teeth protrude over the lower teeth), underbites (lower teeth protrudes over the upper teeth), crossbites (upper and lower jaw fail to align) are common in children from 6 to 8 years old. Early intervention helps correct oral problems before they get worse. The best time is before all the permanent teeth grow in.
Treatment Plan for Braces
Phase 1: The first phase of the treatment is to make space for the emerging teeth to grow out properly to prevent cross bites and overbites. Limited hardware such as partial braces and expanders work well to resolve these issues.
Phase 2: Once the permanent teeth have all grown in and the child reaches the pre-teen years (11 to 13), a comprehensive examination and long-term treatment is recommended that usually involves full braces. Early intervention allows your child’s teeth to be corrected faster, requiring less time for braces.
Braces not only correct improperly aligned teeth and prevent complicated dental problems in the future, but also enhance your child’s self confidence with a better smile with straighter, better aligned, clean, healthy teeth.
Anabella Dental
At Anabella Dental, we specialize in professional Cosmetic Dentistry services that includes general dental practices, orthodontics, advanced cosmetic procedures, and periodontics. Our boutique style practice is focused on making patients the central focus, providing a complete and professional dental experience with gentle care. Please contact our dental office for consultation and appointment.