“Do We Need to Think About Braces?” -- Answers for Kids, Teens, and Adults

Orthodontics is about more than just straight teeth. It’s about creating a healthy bite, improving function, and boosting confidence for people of all ages.

The American Association of Orthodontists recommends that parents bring their child for their first evaluation by an orthodontist at age seven. This doesn’t always mean that your child is ready for orthodontic treatment right away, but it allows your doctor to check for problems that could be developing. Although we often just monitor kids for jaw growth and tooth eruption, sometimes early treatment is needed at a young age to reduce the chance of major problems in the future. These problems may include things like: 

• thumb-sucking habits 

• functional concerns for growth 

• reducing the need for permanent teeth extractions later 

• impacted teeth 

• extra or missing teeth 

• making future treatment shorter and simpler 

However, many patients don’t start their braces journey until their teen years (once all of their teeth have erupted).