the right age for braces

Orthodontists today can successfully correct most problems regardless of the patient's age, but that does not mean that the starting age of treatment does not matter. In fact, it may play a significant role in the total time and expenses required for the completion of orthodontic treatment.

Early Intervention

Early intervention can make a dramatic impact on establishing the proper occlusal foundation. The American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) recommends that all children have a check-up with an orthodontist by the time they reach age 7 for early detection of any potential problems. By age 7, some of the permanent teeth have erupted, giving most children a mix of adult and baby teeth. At this stage of mixed dentition, we can spot potential orthodontic problems related to jaw growth and eruption of adult teeth. Some growth-related orthodontic problems are easier to correct when they are identified early, while the facial bones are still growing.

An early exam allows us to determine how and when a child's particular jaw and/or dental problems should be corrected for optimal results. Early treatment, or phase one therapy, may be needed to create a better environment to optimize the occlusion for the patient. An early orthodontic examination does not always result in immediate treatment. After evaluating your child, we may simply want to monitor him or her periodically while the permanent teeth erupt and the jaws and face continue to develop.

Adolescent Treatment

Most orthodontic problems are ideally treated during adolescence. At this point, all or most permanent teeth have erupted and patients are at one of the most active phases of growth. Adolescence is a great time to correct most problems, as the jaws are actively growing and their growth can be most easily modified during this time.

Adult Treatment

Healthy teeth can be moved at any age, and it is never too late to improve your smile.
Our team works with all of our adult patients to address their individual concerns.