What is the Youngest Age at Which Your Child Can Get Houston Braces?

Although we get many adult patients who seek Houston braces treatment, children are our most typical patient. Many parents start asking us what is the youngest age at which their child can get braces. Although this may vary case by case, here is what our South Houston family dentists recommend.

The Youngest Age For Houston Braces Patients

Dental braces treatment usually takes place between the ages of 8 and 14 because, at this time, most kids have lost all or most of their baby teeth. That said, the best time for your child to get dental braces greatly depends on how severe their malocclusion (bad bite) is. Some children may need braces for longer due to a really bad bite, so in some cases we may recommend they start closer to 8. Other children may not have as bad a case, so they can wait a bit longer and get fitted for braces closer to age 14.

Get an Early Orthodontic Evaluation at Centra Dental

Because everyone's mouth is different, we understand that a ballpark range of ages may not be the exact answer you were looking for. Because of this, our South Houston family dentists like to recommend that parents bring their child in for an orthodontic evaluation when the child is about 7 years old. Even though some children still have some of their baby teeth at 7, our trained dentists are able to draw conclusions on how their teeth and jaw will develop. At this evaluation, we will be able to tell when your child should get braces and if interceptive treatment will be beneficial. Interceptive treatment involves using dental appliances to complete early treatment if a patient’s malocclusion is one that can worsen the longer it’s left untreated.

Houston Braces at Centra Dental in South Houston

Children are either excited about braces or dreading the experience, but dental braces today are much lighter in weight and more subtle in appearance than they used to be. With the many types of Houston braces we offer, we’ll find the method that works best for your child to have healthy, straight teeth in the future. If your child is reaching age 7, please schedule an appointment with us to begin discussing their treatment.