What Age Is Best for Braces? A Parent's Guide to Timing

Why is there no single best age for braces?

Orthodontists treat two different kinds of problem, and they run on different clocks.

• Tooth position problems, such as crowding, gaps and rotated teeth, are usually best treated once the adult teeth they involve have come through. Straightening teeth that have not yet erupted is not possible, and starting too early can mean treating twice.
• Jaw and bite problems, such as a lower jaw that sits too far forward or a bite that forces the jaw to one side, depend on growth. Some are easier to influence while a child is still growing, which is why they are worth spotting early.

Children also develop at different speeds. Two ten-year-olds can be several years apart in dental development, so orthodontists judge timing by which teeth are present and how growth is progressing rather than by the birthday alone.

What happens at each age, and what does the orthodontist do?

Why see an orthodontist around age seven?

By about seven, the first adult molars and front teeth have usually come in, so an orthodontist can see how the bite is establishing and whether there is likely to be enough room for the teeth still to come. The American Association of Orthodontists recommends this first visit no later than age 7.

An early check is not the same as early braces. Most children seen at this age are simply reviewed every so often while their teeth develop. The visit is about catching the minority of problems where timing matters and giving parents a clear plan.

Monitoring is active rather than passive. At each review the orthodontist compares how the teeth and jaws have changed since the last visit, checks that adult teeth are erupting in the right order and place, and watches habits such as thumb sucking or mouth breathing. When the teeth that need moving have arrived, the conversation turns to whether, and when, to start treatment. What the appointment involves, and how to prepare your child, is explained on our children's orthodontic assessment page.

Which problems are worth catching before the teenage years?

These are the findings that usually prompt a closer look while a child is still growing:

• A crossbite with a jaw shift, where the lower jaw slides to one side to close. Our page on crossbite correction explains why this matters.
• Lower front teeth in front of the upper ones, a sign of a developing underbite.
• Upper front teeth that stick out a long way, which are more likely to be chipped or knocked out in a fall.
• Teeth erupting in the wrong place, for example an upper canine that cannot be felt in the gum when it should be; see impacted canines.
• An open bite linked to a habit, such as prolonged thumb sucking; our guide to thumb sucking and teeth covers when to act.

For many other problems, waiting until more adult teeth are through allows a single course of treatment rather than two. The specialist explains which applies to your child and why.

Why do most children start braces in their early teens?

Between about 10 and 14, several things line up. Most adult teeth, apart from the second and third molars, are through or arriving, so they can all be aligned in one course of treatment. Many children are also in their adolescent growth spurt, which helps when the bite between the upper and lower jaws needs correcting. Girls often reach this stage a little earlier than boys.

Teenagers can also take on the daily responsibilities that treatment needs: brushing carefully around brackets, wearing elastics or aligners as instructed, and keeping appointments. Treatment for comprehensive cases commonly takes 12 to 24 months; our guide to how long braces take explains what changes that. Our teen orthodontics page covers treatment at this age, including school and sport.

Removable plates, fixed braces or aligners for children?

Parents often ask about removable plates, the acrylic appliances with wires and sometimes a small screw that some children wear for limited movements or to widen the upper arch. They can tip teeth and hold space, but they cannot control tooth roots precisely, and they only work when worn. Our guide to removable braces and plates explains what they can and cannot do.

For full treatment in the teenage years, the usual choices are fixed braces or clear aligners. At Creative Arts our specialist orthodontists provide fixed braces and Invisalign, including Invisalign for teens, and recommend whichever is more predictable for your child's teeth and more realistic for their habits.

Is it ever too late for braces?

No. Teeth move at any age as long as the gums and bone around them are healthy, and many people start treatment in their late teens, twenties or later. Adults cannot rely on jaw growth to help correct a bite, so some jaw problems that could be influenced in childhood need a different approach, occasionally including jaw surgery. Adults also tend to have fillings, crowns or missing teeth that the plan must work around, and gum health is checked before any tooth is moved. Most alignment problems, though, are treated in adults much as they are in teenagers. Our adult orthodontics page explains what is different.

Cost depends on the complexity of the problem, the appliance and the length of treatment rather than on age alone. Our page on the cost of braces in Dubai explains what goes into a quote, and you receive a written plan before treatment starts.