Dental braces: When to start

It's a good idea to get an orthodontic evaluation by the time a child is 7 years old. An orthodontist is a dentist with additional training, who specializes in aligning and straightening teeth. The best time for your child to get dental braces depends on the severity and the cause of the misalignment of your child's teeth.

Traditionally, treatment with dental braces begins when a child has lost most of his or her baby (primary) teeth, and a majority of the adult (permanent) teeth have grown in — usually between the ages of 8 and 14. If treatment is needed during this time, interceptive or preventive care can take advantage of your child's growth to guide the intended result as development takes place.

Some orthodontists recommend what's called an interceptive approach, which involves using dental appliances (not always dental braces) at an earlier age, while a child still has mostly baby teeth. Then, when a child has mainly adult teeth, a second phase of treatment is started, usually with dental braces. This second phase is thought by some to be shorter than a traditional course of braces if an early treatment has been done.

Orthodontists who favor the traditional approach say that a two-phase approach to treatment actually increases the total time — and sometimes the expense — of orthodontic treatment with generally similar results. However, other orthodontists believe guidance of growth using dental appliances before the second phase of treatment makes correction easier.

The best choice for you and your child will largely depend on the severity of your child's dental problems. Talk with your child's dentist or orthodontist about the best course of action.