It can be difficult to know when your son or daughter might need braces to straighten their teeth, especially because teeth can fall out over a period of years. Oftentimes, not all adult teeth will grow straight and braces will be required to adjust them properly. The ideal time period for your child to get braces is between ages 8 and 14 when almost all of their adult teeth have grown in. It is not uncommon for a child to have all of their permanent teeth before age 8, in which case you can consider getting them braces earlier.
Timeline of a child’s teeth:
- Between 6 months and 2 years your child’s first set of teeth, or their baby teeth, should begin to grow in
- Around age 6, your child’s baby teeth should begin to fall out, however, this can occur at later ages as well
- Baby teeth usually fall out on their own when the adult tooth begins to grow in and take the baby tooth’s place
- Between ages 8 and 14, your child should have almost all of their adult teeth
- Between ages 8 and 14 many children will receive their first round of braces to begin to straighten and align their teeth properly
- Sometimes a child’s tooth development can be advanced or delayed, and this timeline may be shifted slightly according to their development
Is my child too young for braces?
The answer to whether or not your youngster is too young for braces is subjective. Every child is different and develops their primary and secondary teeth at different times. However, the most important thing when it comes to considering braces for your child is whether your child has the majority of their permanent teeth. If your youngster has most of their adult teeth, at any age, it is time to consider braces.
Dr. Buchheit at Koch Park Dental – Martin L. Buchheit, DDS can determine whether or not your child needs braces and advise on the proper orthodontic schedule.
No one is ever too old for braces
Many men and women did not receive the opportunity to get braces in their childhood, and now that they are older they regret it and desire straight teeth. For those adults that did not have braces when they were younger, it is important to remember that it is never too late to get braces and no one is “too old” to have braces. Straight teeth affect an individual’s appearance and serve an important purpose both practically and visually.
Contact Koch Park Dental – Martin L. Buchheit, DDS:
314-837-7744
Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):
2149 Charbonier Rd
Florissant, Missouri
63033
