Should My Child Get Braces on Their Baby Teeth or Wait for the Permanent Teeth?

Braces are something often associated with adolescence, especially the teenage years. That isn’t always the case though. Some people get braces quite early, while others end up getting them as mature adults. So what’s right for your child? If your child needs braces, should they get them while they have baby teeth or should you wait until they have their permanent teeth?

The Purpose of Braces

First, it’s important to understand what the purpose of having braces is. Braces can help correct a variety of dental problems that can result in damaged teeth and poor oral health. Crowded teeth, poor tooth alignment, poor jaw alignment, and crooked teeth can be corrected by getting braces. These are problems that can make those who have them more prone to cavities, tooth decay, and tooth loss.

Reasons to Get Braces

There are plenty of motivations for getting braces. Your child’s smile can have a huge impact on their social life and self esteem. Everyone wants to feel good about their smile. Can you imagine how much more difficult it is to express happiness when you’re self conscious about your smile? Of course, there’s also the improvements they can offer in terms of oral health too. Taking corrective action earlier rather than later helps prevent existing problems from becoming much worse later on.

A Matter of Timing

So when should your child get braces? If your child only has baby teeth, it’s probably too early. Orthodontic care typically starts between the ages of 9 and 14, at which point children typically have at least some permanent teeth. That said, it may also work to get braces once all the permanent teeth have come in. What’s best for your child will depend on a variety of factors that are going to be unique to them, so consulting with an orthodontist is crucial. Orthodontics isn’t a one size fits all discipline.

In short, it’s not generally going to be necessary for your child to get braces when all they have is baby teeth, even if their spacing and alignment is far from optimal. It’s important to consider the purpose for braces and reasons to get them in addition to the specific factors that are impacting your child’s smile. Consult with an orthodontist both you and your child trust so you can make the best decisions for your child’s oral health.

Whether you need the service of a dentist or an orthodontist, we’ve got you covered. Check out our Smile-Worthy Services to see how we can help you keep your smile happy and healthy.