What Age Is Best To Get Braces?
Apr 09, 2018
One of the biggest questions people, especially parents, face when dealing with their children’s dental health is: at what age should I be giving my child braces? Having braces too early may require additional treatment later down in life.
What Age Is Best To Get Braces?
One of the biggest questions people, especially parents, face when dealing with their children’s dental health is: at what age should I be giving my child braces? Having braces too early may require additional treatment later down in life. Getting them too late may require them to be worn for an extended period of time.
While there is no definitive answer to this age-old question, our Torrance dentist office has years of expertise to give you the information you need in order to make the best decision possible for your child.
Ages 7 – 9 (Early)
If you are considering braces for your child, our Torrance Dentist office advises having your child evaluated as early as the age of 7. Now, this does not necessarily mean that braces will be applied, but early evaluation allows you to have a better understanding of what options you have for the future. By age 7, your child’s baby teeth should have begun to fall out. This allows an orthodontist to get a sense of the final alignment of your child’s permanent teeth.
If your child’s needs require braces early on, our dental specialists advise that you help him/her take care of them, especially early on. Braces require meticulous care so it is important to provide assistance until good habits are formed.
Ages 10 – 14 (Average)
From our Torrance dentist’s experience, this is the age period most children begin braces treatment. At the age of 10 – 14 all your child’s baby teeth should have fallen out. Additionally, at this age, your child’s jaw structure is sturdy enough to handle long-term orthodontic treatment.
Braces are now offered in a variety of different options. Braces include traditional metal braces, ceramic braces as well as invisible aligners. Our Torrance dental specialists suggest talking to your child first about what having braces entails as well as the changes it will have on their appearance.
Teens and pre-teens are usually old enough to take care of their braces with little assistance. On average, treatment with braces lasts anywhere from one and a half to two years to complete. Braces are usually followed by a retainer to ensure additional treatment is not required down the road.
Ages 14 + (Older)
Contrary to what many people think, you are never too old to undergo orthodontic treatment. Braces are no exception. In many cases, adults did not have the funds to undergo orthodontic treatment as children. Thus, they get treatment later-on in life.
Braces will cause some disruption to your everyday routine. It will require you to change certain aspects of your life such as diet, etc. This being said, braces are a short-term sacrifice for long-term benefits.
Braces With Our Select Dental & Orthodontics Team
Our entire staff of Torrance dentists and medical specialists at Select Dental & Orthodontics have been helping bring people healthy happy smiles they can be proud of for over a decade. Our dentists and staff take pride in giving the people a boost of confidence through their smile. We do not discriminate and are open to treating patients, both children, and adults. For more information about our Torrance dental practice or to speak with one of our Torrance dentists, contact us today! Follow us on Facebook and Instagram to stay up-to-date.