What Age is Best for Braces?

When most people think of the right age for braces, they assume that the teenage years are the right age. While you may see more teens or pre-teens with braces, they can also be used to treat dental issues in younger children and adults.

Even though adolescence can be the ideal time for braces, orthodontic care is a flexible and versatile treatment that can correct misalignments, fix spacing issues, and create a confident smile at any age.+

The best age for braces is often considered to be early adolescence. This is between the ages of 10 and 14. This is typically the ideal age for braces because, at this point, pre-teens and teenagers have nearly all of their adult teeth in place. Additionally, their jawbone is softer and will be very responsive to the repositioning set forth by the braces.

The best age for braces will vary between children and depends on two factors:

Most commonly, braces have the best effect if applied after your child has lost all of their primary teeth but not prior to when their second molars come in. This occurs around the ages of 11 and 13.

Early orthodontic treatment is any care applied to your child’s teeth before their adult teeth erupt. Early intervention, between the ages of 7-10 years old, is used to resolve easily fixed alignment and spacing issues. This treatment helps to make wearing full braces more effective and efficient.

With early orthodontic treatment, your child may wear a retainer, a growth modifying appliance, a palatal expander, or partial braces.

According to the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO), children should be seen by an orthodontist by the age of 7, long before they are old enough for braces.

Having your child examined at an earlier age means Severns Dentistry & Orthodontics can identify any jaw problems or bite misalignments early on. This will allow us to address these issues with early intervention orthodontic treatment. Early orthodontic treatment helps set your child up for faster and more efficient orthodontic treatment later.

Early orthodontic treatment will help save you money and shorten your child’s required treatment time overall by correcting underlying structural issues, allowing braces to straighten teeth and fix alignment more efficiently.

According to the AAO, adults account for 20% of orthodontic patients. While getting braces tends to be an easier and faster experience for adolescents, there are many benefits for adults who receive orthodontic treatment.

Many adults get braces to gain a straighter, more confident smile, but there are various other benefits to having your teeth straightened and your jaw properly aligned. Benefits include:

Crooked or crowded teeth are harder to keep clean, but you can improve spacing and straighten your teeth with braces. This will make it easier to clean them and remove plaque, protecting you against gum disease, tooth loss, and tooth decay.

With straighter teeth, you will regain confidence in your smile. Braces will help create a beautiful, healthy smile you will want to share with the world!

If you suffer from bite alignment issues, braces can correct these problems resulting in healthier, more functional teeth and gums. Braces can also help make eating and speaking easier by properly aligning your teeth.

It is essential to remember that adults have harder jawbone tissues, making orthodontic treatment more involved. At Severns Dentistry & Orthodontics, we will work with you to create an orthodontic treatment plan that will improve your bite alignment, straighten your teeth, and make it easier to care for your teeth.

At Severns Dentistry & Orthodontics, we offer a variety of orthodontic treatment options for patients of all ages. From braces to Invisalign, we have the treatment you need to create a beautiful smile! Contact us today to learn more!

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