Is Your Child Ready for Braces?

The AAO recommends a first orthodontic check by age 7. Most children do not need treatment at that point; the visit confirms that the bite is developing normally and flags any early intervention opportunities. Early issues like crossbites or significant crowding can sometimes be addressed with shorter, less invasive phase-one treatment.

Phase-one treatment uses appliances during the mixed-dentition years (typically ages 7 to 11) to guide jaw growth or correct specific bite problems like crossbites and severe crowding. It is followed by a rest period and, if needed, a shorter phase-two with braces or aligners. Not every child needs phase one.

Crooked baby teeth do not always predict crooked adult teeth. Children gain enough space when permanent molars erupt and the jaw grows. An orthodontic exam can tell you whether the underlying development is on track even when the visible smile looks crowded.

Most pediatric orthodontic cases run 18 to 24 months, similar to adult cases. Phase-one interceptive treatment is usually shorter (9 to 12 months) followed by a rest period. Retention with retainers continues long after active treatment ends.

Sharing your braces for your child result with a partner, advisor, or coach typically multiplies its value. They often see something in the recommendation that resonates differently to them than it does to you, and that gap on braces for your child is where the most useful conversation lives. The result is far more useful as a conversation starter than as a private conclusion.

Adults and compliant teens with mild to moderate alignment concerns are the strongest candidates.

Severe tooth pain, especially with swelling, fever, or pain that wakes you at night, is treated as urgent in most dental practices and should be assessed today or tomorrow if possible.

A general dentist is the right starting point for almost everyone: routine cleanings, exams, fillings, and a baseline diagnosis.

Dentists with sleep-medicine training fit mandibular advancement devices that move the lower jaw forward during sleep, opening the airway.

For a restorable tooth in a position that matters to the bite or appearance, saving the natural tooth with a root canal and crown is usually the better long-term outcome.