I am often asked- “when is the right is the right age for getting braces“. That question should be reworded to-What is the right age to “start orthodontic treatment?” because there are now a variety of orthodontic appliances beyond just braces. There are basically two entry points into orthodontic treatment. In severe situations such as large overbites, crossbites, and advanced dental crowding, the trend over the last 20 years has been to treat as early as age 7 or 8. This is called Interceptive Treatment or, Phase 1. More commonly, full or comprehensive treatment will begin at age 10-12 which corresponds to the age where all of the permanent teeth have erupted. Interceptive treatment usually lasts less than a year while full treatment will last around 2 years. To determine the best time to start treatment for your child and their specific situation, the American Association of Orthodontics recommends a consultation by age 7.
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