Typically, the best age to start orthodontic treatment with braces is when a child has lost most or all of his or her baby teeth and has the majority of their permanent teeth. This usually happens between the ages of 11 and 14.
If treatment is needed during this period, preventive or interceptive care is a great way to take advantage of a child’s growth and guide the desired results as his or her development occurs. There are some orthodontists who recommend an interceptive approach.
This usually involves the use of dental appliances when the child is younger and still has most of his or her baby teeth. Then, once a child has mostly adult teeth, a second phase of treatment can begin, which normally includes braces.
It is this second part of treatment that might be shorter than a traditional course of braces. This is thanks to the early interceptive treatment.
Early orthodontic treatment includes fixed or removable appliances, palate expanders, space maintainers, and more.
Phase I orthodontic treatment takes place when your child doesn’t have all their permanent teeth yet. In some cases, kids still have most of their baby teeth when Phase I begins.
Interceptive care in Phase I can address a lot of common orthodontic issues, including:
If your child sucks on a thumb or pacifier, this habit can negatively affect teeth and jaw growth over time. Interceptive care can address these issues to improve mouth function.
Phase II begins once your child has all their permanent teeth. Also called full orthodontic treatment, this phase may include traditional orthodontic braces or clear aligners.
Even if your child doesn’t need Phase I treatment, it’s important for them to have regular check-ups as recommended by our team.
Orthodontic treatment in the teen years and beyond is focused on perfecting the look and function of teeth. Remember that even if your child didn’t get a full orthodontic evaluation before they got all their permanent teeth, it’s never too late to benefit from orthodontics.