What Is the Best Age to Start Orthodontic Treatment?

Every child should have their first orthodontic check-up around the age of 5-6. If any issues are diagnosed early?issues that might not be noticeable to the family?simple appliances can be used to prevent more significant problems in the future.

For example, a child might be sucking their thumb or tongue, or shifting their jaw forward out of imitation or for other reasons. These behaviors can be addressed at a young age to prevent serious issues later on. Without early intervention, these habits can lead to speech and appearance problems, which are often detectable by a dentist or orthodontist.

Even if your dentist refers you to an orthodontist at an early age, this doesn't always mean that treatment will begin immediately. Most careful dentists want to ensure that any potential problems are under control and that the right time for treatment hasn't passed. Jaw issues in children need to be addressed early, but treatment for irregular teeth can usually wait until later.

There is no need to worry excessively about the position of the first teeth in children. The spaces between baby teeth are normal, and tight contacts like those in adults may indicate a lack of space, which could lead to crooked teeth in the future. Permanent teeth begin to erupt around ages 6-7, and problems are usually not noticeable until all the front teeth have erupted. Baby teeth may also need to be extracted under the supervision of a doctor if necessary.

Adult patients can also undergo orthodontic treatment. Both the jaws and teeth can be corrected. While increasing age can make treatment a little more challenging and may extend the treatment period, age is not as important as the health of the supporting tissues around the teeth. If the teeth and gums are healthy, treatment is possible at any age.