It’s never too late to have braces. In fact, with the different types of braces now available, many adults are now realising that a perfect smile is still within their reach. However, most of these adults probably wish that they’d had braces as kids! As parents we understand that there are benefits to getting braces in early life, and we certainly want to give our children every opportunity we can. But it could be possible that your child is too young to get braces.

Treatment begins early, but braces can wait

The short answer is yes; braces for children under the age of 7 years is not usually recommended, because at this stage your child still retains many of their primary teeth (these start falling out around the age of 6 years old to make way for adult teeth to develop). However, this doesn’t mean your child is too young to begin orthodontic treatment to address more serious, current dental problems, or to prevent issues from worsening in the future.

According to the Australian Society of Orthodontists, the best time for a child to first visit a specialist orthodontist is between 8-10 years of age. However, there's no specific rule about this. In some cases, your dentist may suggest your child sees an orthodontist at a much earlier age.

How do I know when my child is ready for braces?

If you or your dentist have concerns about the formation of your child’s teeth, the safest option is to come along for an orthodontic assessment regardless of your child's age. If there are problems emerging in the development of your child's teeth, early-stage intervention may be the best plan of attack.

For instance, if your child is experiencing issues such as severe overcrowding or overbite, it can be beneficial to begin treatment immediately in order to avoid unnecessary discomfort. This may mean tooth extraction or the use of removable orthopaedic plates, which limit further damage until your child is ready for braces.

As this ‘two-phase’ style of treatment can be more expensive and take longer than simply applying braces once your child is older, we tend to only resort to this option when your child’s health is affected. If your concerns relate purely to aesthetic appearance, it’s best to wait until your child’s permanent, adult teeth are established before correctional treatment begins.

The benefits of braces for children

The older a person gets, the more pronounced dental problems can become — making treatment with braces more complex. Early treatment provides an opportunity for your orthodontist to have more control over where the permanent teeth will form, and be better able to design the structure of your child’s jaw and smile.

Braces for children who are primary school-aged tends to be a less stressful process for everyone involved; as children grow older and become more conscious about their appearance, postponing treatment until their teens can create avoidable stress. That said, braces have come a long way since the days when kids were too scared to smile through a mouth-full of metal! Different types of braces (such as Invisalign ^®) exist now, so there’s options for clear, subtle and removable braces which can be taken out while eating or for special events.

If you’re still unsure about the age limitations involved in braces for children, Dr Anthony Pistolese offers a initial consultation service at Inner West Orthodontics. Contact us to book an appointment today, in order to assess the best course of action for your child and plan ahead for any future treatment required.