The Parent’s Guide to Braces for Kids

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02

What is the Best Age to Get Braces for Kids?

Most parents ask, “What is the best age to get braces for kids?” Not only are most orthodontic problems more difficult to correct later, but the toll they can take on someone’s confidence and sense of self-worth can be devastating.

This is why we recommend ALL children be evaluated by an orthodontist by age seven. But just because kids should be evaluated doesn’t mean that they will all need braces at this age. In fact, 9 out of 10 kids seen in our practice can wait until they are in their teens to start orthodontic treatment.

However, if your child needs braces, getting a free consultation early could save them from years of unnecessary orthodontic treatment—and possibly save you thousands of dollars.

What Is The Best Age For Braces? For Some Kids It’s Early in Life

Certain dental issues, like severe crooked teeth, overbites, and underbites, can only be corrected during a child’s jaw growth phase. Once a child has stopped growing, these problems may require surgery or other time-consuming, costly procedures.

Missing this narrow window of growth means that treatment gets harder and usually costs more.

A few of the problems that are easiest to correct in younger children include:

Crossbites
Overbites
Underbites
Permanent teeth that won’t grow
Early loss of baby teeth
Plus several other conditions

Are Crooked Teeth A Sure Sign My Kid Needs Braces?

Having malocclusion does not guarantee a child will need braces.

Frankly, this is what worries us about non-specialists like family dentists performing orthodontics.

They may easily miss an early diagnosis of malocclusion, when it could have been averted without braces. Or they may leap to braces as the only way to treat all malocclusion.

Either way, you and your child lose.

Questions to Ask At An Orthodontic Evaluation

The questions you’ll want to ask at an orthodontic screening, no matter who the orthodontist is, are:

The first full orthodontic appointment should occur early in a child’s life to determine the best age for them to get braces. We recommend age seven for this evaluation. No later than eight, especially if there is a family history of malocclusion.

When Parents Should Get An Orthodontic Consultation For Their Kids

The first full orthodontic exam should occur early in a child’s life to determine the best age for braces. We recommend age seven for this evaluation—no later than eight, especially if there is a family history of malocclusion.

By scheduling early and periodic exams with an orthodontic specialist, you may avoid the need for braces and/or prevent more treatment and higher costs later in life.

What most parents fail to realize is that these treatment problems are urgent and should be treated as such.

What if My Child is Not Ready For Braces?

If your child is not yet ready, you can get an estimate of when they will be ready to start treatment. You’ll also receive an estimate for braces pricing. This helps parents to know if they need to begin saving money for traditional braces or other procedures in case they are needed.

If braces are needed in three years, skipping one Starbucks run a week during that time can make a hefty dent in the bill. Utilizing a Health Savings Account or Flex Spending Account can also help, as can dental insurance with orthodontic coverage. Ideas for paying for orthodontic treatment can be found later in this guide.

What If My Child Is Younger Than Seven?

Children younger than seven usually have no permanent teeth (or very few). Without a few adult teeth to evaluate, it’s difficult to determine if a child will need braces.

When considering the best age to get braces, most children younger than seven aren’t mature enough for their mouths to handle them. Whatever tooth or bite problems they may have can still be treated affordably and safely when they are a bit older.

If, however, you have specific concerns about your child’s oral health, you can still have them evaluated before seven as a preventative measure. This allows you to get questions answered and create a game plan for any future treatment.

What If My Child Is Older Than Seven?

If you haven’t had a consultation before age 7, the next best time for a full orthodontic exam is tomorrow at 3:00 p.m. All jokes aside, now really is the best time to ask an orthodontist when your child should have braces.

If it is determined after the first consultation that your son or daughter does need braces, you will be relieved that you didn’t wait another day to plan for the future of your child’s health.

Now that you understand when kids need to have an orthodontic consult, we should talk about the differences between a dentist and an orthodontist.