Braces for Kids: Know when it’s Time

If your child has tooth alignment problems that are evident early in life, he or she can benefit from visiting an orthodontist and getting a full evaluation. While there is no specific age for some treatments, others are started as early as possible. Most pediatric dentists recommend making your child’s first dental appointment within six months of the appearance of his or her first tooth. Your child’s dentist will refer him or her to an orthodontist as soon as it’s appropriate.

Why your Child Might be Helped by Braces for Kids
Dental braces address many structural and cosmetic dental problems including:

• Difficulty biting or chewing
• Untimely or irregular loss of primary teeth
• Missing teeth
• Blocked-out teeth
• Overbite or under-bite
• Frequent cheek bites
• Problems with temporomandibular joints
• Crowded or misplaced teeth
• Jaws or teeth that are out of proportion to facial structure

When is the Right Time to Have My Child Evaluated for Orthodontist Braces?
Some children should be evaluated for orthodontic braces at age five or six, while others can wait until permanent teeth start to come in. Experts often recommend getting an evaluation before age seven.

Braces for Kids: What Causes Kids to Need Them?
Most orthodontic problems have a genetic origin. Others can develop from behaviors like thumb sucking and mouth breathing. Dental decay, traumatic injuries, and poor nutrition can also be responsible.

Is There a Best Age for Getting Dental Braces?
The ideal age for treatment by an orthodontist is different for every patient. An orthodontist generally treats children between the ages of 8 and 14. Sometimes, though, there are children who need treatment while their baby teeth are still intact.

To learn about our family dentistry practice in Detroit, call Gentle Dental of Michigan today at or make an appointment.