When should my child see the orthodontist?
The best time for your child to see an orthodontist is at the age of 10-11 years, or 5th/6th class in primary school. At this age, a child may have some baby teeth left. Baby teeth are bigger than their corresponding adult too so they can be used to relieve developing crowding issues. Secondly, the child is just about to start their growth spurt which is when orthodontics works best. Thirdly, if the child has to wear a removable brace first, compliance with this brace is best at this age and we can therefore get the best results!
We often see children of 6-7 years of age if there is a problem with the developing teeth (crossbite, teeth not erupting, early loss of baby teeth). If you or your dentist have any orthodontic worries about your child, then we will happily see you sooner.
We also see many teenagers in our clinic. Treatment will be very successful at this age too. We can help choose a brace your teenager will be happy to wear and that will work for them. Getting patient cooperation with braces is so important.
