This is a common question we get at King Orthodontics when it comes to braces. Every child has different needs, with some requiring braces earlier than others while some children never require braces at all.

It is crucial to first understand how old they need to be to get braces, what types of braces are available for them, and what the best course of action is for your child.

Reasons Your Child May Need Braces

Braces are used to correct more than just crooked teeth and are important for dental health and your child’s overall well-being. While braces can fix crooked teeth or correct gaps, your child may also need braces if they exhibit:

Mouth breathing
Early or late loss of baby teeth
Finger sucking
Poor oral habits
Protruding teeth
Teeth that don’t meet at all or don’t meet normally
Misplaced, blocked out, or crowded teeth
Difficulty speaking
Asymmetry or facial imbalance
Teeth clenching or grinding
Biting into the cheeks or roof of the mouth

This is not a complete list, so if you have questions about your child’s dental health, call King Orthodontics for more information.

What are the Signs that My Child Needs Braces?

As your child loses teeth and their adult teeth begin to erupt, they do not always come in straight into their usual spots. In some cases, they will come in at an angle and then straight into the correct position as they move and as your child grows. The early appearance of their adult teeth is not a good indicator of whether they will need braces or not.

If your child’s teeth remain crooked or they exhibit the signs mentioned above, you should have their teeth evaluated by an orthodontist at our office.

The American Academy of Orthodontists (AAO) recommends that your child visits the orthodontist by the age of seven. Within this age range, your orthodontist will evaluate your child’s bite, oral habits, and airway and can determine if they will require braces or other orthodontic treatment.

Typically, children get braces between the ages of 9 and 14 years old. However, in some instances, orthodontic treatment may be needed earlier before all the child’s baby teeth have fallen out. You also need to know your child and whether they will understand how to take care of their braces.

Early Orthodontic Treatment for Your Child

If you identify an issue with your child’s bite or facial asymmetry before they turn seven, you do not have to wait to make an orthodontic appointment. We recommend seeing your child for a check-up as soon as you notice an issue. The sooner they see an orthodontist, the sooner we can treat and resolve the issue.

With early orthodontic treatment, we can help to prevent a minor bite, and prevent oral and airway issues from becoming bigger, more serious problems. This type of treatment will also help your orthodontist to correct issues that we can’t address once your child’s face and jaw stop growing.

An orthodontist can recommend early orthodontic for a variety of reasons, such as:

To create room in their mouth to prevent crowded teeth as they erupt
Limit any trauma to the protruding front teeth
Improve their facial symmetry
Reduce their need to have teeth removed
Reduce their need for jaw surgery
Save space for their teeth that haven’t erupted yet
Speed up treatment time with braces
Correct a bad bite to avoid gum disease, tooth decay, chipping, speech impediments, or uneven wear to the teeth

With early orthodontic treatment, we can help prevent a number of issues to help provide your child with a healthier smile.

Braces for Kids at King Orthodontics

In most cases, braces are the last step we use to address a child’s dental issues, but if it is found that your child needs braces, they will be in great hands with King Orthodontics! Contact us today to schedule an appointment.