Orthodontists and dentists like myself will tell you the best age for teeth braces is between 9 and 11 years old. Several reasons make this the best age, but the final determining factor depends on your child and their dental history.
FOUR REASONS FOR PRE-ADOLESCENT TREATMENT
Reasons for installing teeth braces on children when they are between 9 and 11 years old are scientific from a dentist’s view. Others take a child’s emotional well-being and peer standing into account.
Complete Permanent Dentition
Orthodontists want to wait until the child has all their permanent teeth in place before installing braces. Otherwise, braces can interfere with erupting and growing teeth. Plus, having all adult teeth shows the orthodontist all the problems to be fixed.
Optimal Tooth Mobility
A child between the ages of 9 and 11 years old has all their adult teeth, but those teeth are not fully set into the jawbone. They can be easily moved by the braces and that makes for easier, more effective treatment.
Social Acceptance
Getting metal braces at this age isn’t unusual. It’s practically a rite of passage. Your pre-adolescent won’t feel out of place and won’t be teased because many other kids are wearing braces too. Your child will be able to talk to others going through orthodontic treatment about all that’s involved and getting peer support is healthy.
Pre-High School Completion
Orthodontic treatments take between 18 months to 3 years to complete. That puts the child at around 11 to 14 years old when the braces come off. High school is an important social time for kids and being able to show a confident smile as they enter their freshman year will give them a great start.
FINANCIAL ADVANTAGES
Braces are expensive but traditional metal braces are the most affordable option. Children aged 9 to 11 years old do fine with these. Older kids in high school are more self-conscious and tend to want more fashionable, expensive options like ceramic braces or clear aligners.
Plus, treatments may take longer since their teeth are more fixed into the jaw. You can save money by getting your younger child into orthodontic treatments before they hit puberty.
WHEN TO CONSULT AN ORTHODONTIST
Children should be seeing a dentist from the time they get their first baby tooth. A dentist can monitor oral health and teeth growth, including eruption of their first permanent teeth.
First Orthodontic Consultation
Eruption of their first adult teeth is when you should take your child for their first orthodontist visit. Permanent teeth start coming in around age 7. An orthodontist will give a simple exam to see if teeth are coming in straight. They will monitor adult teeth as they come in so you can be prepared if orthodontics is needed.
POSITIVE ORTHODONTIC EXPERIENCE
Parents may think that getting braces for a pre-adolescent child has a lot of negative impact, but my experience shows otherwise. They are the least affected by orthodontic treatments and rebound easily. Older teens are more self-conscious because they are involved in more extracurricular activities, which means pictures, yearbook photos, social media posts, and dating.
PROFESSIONAL ORTHODONTIC CONSULTATION
You and your child can make an appointment to discuss your orthodontic needs with us. We can show you how things will look and even show your child how their teeth will look after treatments with our virtual reality program.
