Best Age to Get Braces for Kids in Culver City

Crooked, poorly spaced, or overlapping teeth can make a child feel quite self-conscious when they see their smile in the mirror. They may compare it to other people’s smiles, especially once they reach their teen years. You can be proactive and get your child braces for kids in Culver City even earlier than their teen years. Sometimes, it’s possible to avoid wearing them during those fragile years when their self-worth is often shaped by how other people perceive them.

So, when is the right time for braces for your little one? Let us provide some expert insight so you can pick the right time for optimal results for your child’s smile.

Your Child Should Have an Exam at Seven

Traditionally, parents were advised to wait until around the time all their child’s teeth erupted to determine if braces were necessary. However, modern technology lets us evaluate how your child’s teeth will come in as early as seven, according to the American Association of Orthodontists.

Sounds a bit young… don’t you think?

Well, it’s actually not. Through an X-ray and a visual assessment of the teeth and jaw alignment, an orthodontist can determine at this stage if the child will eventually need braces and will be able to intervene early. In fact, sometimes, a kid may receive braces at this age, when the jaw is growing, to fix crossbites, underbites, and overbites, or make sure there’s enough space for your little one’s permanent teeth.

When a child receives braces at this age, they may not need them in the future. In some cases, they’ll need them for less time.

Another important mention is that an orthodontist can determine if thumb-sucking or prolonged pacifier usage affected your child’s teeth.

The Average Age for Braces Is Between 10 and 14

Most often, we recommend that a child receive braces at McComb Orthodontics when they’re between the ages of 10 and 14. This is when they’ve lost all their baby teeth or will lose them in the near future.

Though the exact age when a child hits their growth spurt around puberty varies from person to person and even based on gender, between the ages of 10 and 14 is right around the time when both girls and boys will have a major growth spurt, which will change the size of their jaw. An orthodontist will incorporate their growth into the mix when creating an orthodontic plan for them.

While your child’s jaw is growing, it remains malleable, which makes it easier for treatment to move their teeth. Ultimately, they may benefit from a shorter treatment — or at least one that’s most effective at treating their orthodontic issues. If they receive treatment as an adult, when the jaw is fully formed and denser, it’s more difficult for the teeth to shift into their proper positions. Not to mention, the treatment may be more costly at this point.

And the results may not be exactly what your son or daughter wanted at that point. That’s not taking into account that more invasive procedures, such as tooth extractions or jaw surgery, may be necessary to correct their teeth once their jaw is fully developed.

Maturity Is a Factor

With braces, your child must follow the dietary restrictions. If they need bands or headgear, your kids must adhere to use as directed by their orthodontist so they receive the highest degree of results possible. Your little one must also care for their teeth properly, or they could wind up with gum disease or cavities.

Typically, the 10 to 14 age group is mature enough to follow the rules of how to care for their teeth and braces. This is particularly important if you decide (or your child wants) Invisalign clear aligners to straighten their teeth because it requires them to wear their aligners for so many hours each day and remove them consistently whenever they eat or drink any beverage besides water.

Only an Orthodontist Can Determine the Ideal Time 

Like most parents you want what’s best for your child. You want them to possibly have opportunities you never had, such as braces that you might not have had as a child. You want to see your kid smile as much as possible and feel confident in the skin they’re in. This all can be possible if you decide to get your kid braces per the orthodontist’s request.

Beyond getting your child braces, you also have to choose the right time for them to receive the best outcome. It’ll need to be when braces will work most effectively. The only way to know for sure when your child will benefit the most from treatment is to schedule an exam with their orthodontist for an evaluation. Always express any concerns you have to ensure your kid is getting care tailored to them.

The orthodontist will continuously monitor your child’s growth and development and will take X-rays along with visual examinations to determine when starting treatment is ideal for your little one.

While 10 to 14 is the average age to get braces for kids in Culver City, and getting your child an evaluation at seven is the best-case scenario, working with the orthodontist will lead to your child getting treatment when it’s a good time for them based on how fast they’re losing teeth, their jawbone structure, and more. And if your child is older than this, it’s not too late to get them braces to correct minor and major tooth imperfections and even improve their oral hygiene.