At what age is a child ready for braces?
It’s not a child’s age that determines when it’s time to apply braces. In most cases, braces are fitted when all permanent teeth, other than the third molars, have come in. This usually occurs by age 14, which explains why braces are most common in the early teen years. Regular dental checkups at younger ages can alert the dentist whether teeth are coming in crooked or crowded, providing plenty of advance notice that braces lie ahead for improved bite and better appearance. However, braces are sometimes applied to younger children who still have some primary teeth. Not only can certain problems be corrected readily at this earlier stage, but early braces can sometimes help shorten the overall process and improve results when braces are applied to permanent teeth.
