What Age Do I Need to Get Braces?

Posted on July 31, 2017

This is one of the most frequently asked questions we get in our practice, and perhaps the most controversial questions regarding dental health. At Cardinal Orthodontics, we wait until all of the baby teeth have been lost and all of the permanent teeth (except wisdom teeth) are growing in before our patients get braces. Usually, this is 11-12 for girls and 12-13 for boys. This can vary depending on the patient, but for the majority of children these numbers are accurate.

Will I need Braces more than Once?

Many orthodontists use an early set of braces (Phase 1) to expand the upper jaw and try to make the teeth straighter during younger years of a patient’s life.  Phase 1 treatment can take  place any time between the ages of 7 and 10 years old. The Phase 2 set of braces usually happens as indicated above, when the baby teeth are all lost and the permanent teeth have grown in.

At Cardinal Orthodontics, we want to limit the amount of time our patients are in braces. Not only will this cost less money for the parents, but it also means less time missed from school, and the less chance of scarring or other dental problems. We treat over 95% of patients without an early Phase 1 of braces. We have collected a lot of data indicating that nearly all orthodontics can be done successfully without an early phase of braces or expanders. The results are the same or better without doing unneeded treatment.

What Indicates the Need for 1st Phase Treatment?

The only reason we would do a Phase 1 treatment at Cardinal Orthodontics, is if the child had a crossbite, or was being teased at school. Any other issues can be taken care of once the baby teeth are all gone.

Questions?

The best way for us to answer your personal dental questions, is to schedule a FREE exam with our office. It is recommended that a child be seen by an orthodontist at the age of 7 to evaluate the way their teeth are coming in. Even though we do not provide many early phases of treatment at Cardinal Orthodontics, we would still love to develop a relationship and trust with your family. Most orthodontics are not started until the age of 11-13, but our free growth checks allow us to keep an eye on our patients before getting braces.

To schedule and appointment or to learn more about our practice, please visit: www.cardinalorthodontics.com  

Categories: Oral Health, Orthodontic Treatment
Tags: , , , , , ,

Search

Blog Tags

Archives