Learning the Best Way to Approach Orthodontic Care

Have you noticed that you’re seeing more adults undergoing orthodontic treatment? In the past, it was common to only see children between the ages of 9 and 14 getting orthodontic work done, but now adults of all ages are opting for treatments like braces, Invisalign, or other forms of orthodontic work. If you’ve noticed this change, you might have a lot of questions about it, such as what has caused this trend and whether there’s a best age to undergo orthodontics… and if so, what’s the best age to get orthodontic work.

As technology improves, so does the technology used in dentistry and orthodontics, providing improved treatments to a wider range of people. While there’s still an ideal way to go about seeking orthodontic treatment for your children so that they gain the best possible results, anyone of any age can benefit from orthodontics! 

We’ve put together a guide on orthodontic work, including when the best time to get evaluated is so that you can learn more about this topic and what’s best for you and your children.

There is an ideal age to have a first orthodontic evaluation.

When at all possible, children should have their first orthodontic evaluation by the time they reach seven years old. This may seem young, but by the age of 7, enough of your child’s adult teeth have developed that dentists and orthodontists can predict how the rest of their adult teeth will come in, including potential orthodontic issues, before they happen. 

Knowing this information early is incredibly helpful and means that many children benefit immensely from early intervention orthodontics, which include treatments such as palatal expanders, partial braces, and retainers.

These early orthodontic treatments aim to reduce or eliminate issues like overcrowding by not waiting for them to develop fully to treat them. If your child’s teeth are going to be overcrowded, for example, their dentist may recommend palatal expanders. This device takes advantage of the fact that your child’s jaw is still growing by applying gentle pressure to spread the two sections of their unfused palate apart. These sections grow to meet each other again and fuse normally when the time comes, but the result is that your child’s upper and lower jaws grow wider, creating room for all of their teeth to erupt normally.

Everyone is different and not every child needs early orthodontics, but every child needs to have an early orthodontic evaluation. These treatments can make all the difference for the children who do need them. Addressing these issues now, before they have the time to fully form, reduces the amount, severity, and length of future treatments that your child will need. 

Preventing overcrowding, for example, can reduce or eliminate the need for tooth extractions in the future and allows teeth the space they need to erupt straighter. Your child may still need braces when all of their adult teeth have erupted, but they’ll likely have milder orthodontic issues than they otherwise would. Because of this, they may have more treatment options and will likely have to wear braces or clear aligners like Invisalign for less time.

Orthodontics works best within a certain window.  

Whether your child would benefit from early orthodontic treatment or not, they may still need orthodontic treatment when they reach the age most people associate with orthodontic treatments. There’s a definite benefit to having orthodontic work done around a certain age, generally between nine and 14 years old. 

Kids are usually in this age range when they develop all of their adult teeth, aside from their wisdom teeth, which makes them eligible for full orthodontic treatments like braces or Invisalign, but they haven’t gone through puberty yet. As a result, their faces and jaws are still growing, which makes them more malleable. 

It’s simply faster and easier to straighten teeth and correct misaligned bites when your child’s jawbones are still growing and malleable like this. Because of this, success rates are also higher for younger patients. It’s why most of the orthodontic patients traditionally fall in or around this age range. 

Adults of any age can benefit from orthodontics.

While there’s a definite advantage to undergoing orthodontics as a child, adults of all ages can get orthodontic work done to gain a straight, stunning smile. This means that if you’re interested in orthodontic treatment for yourself as well, you’re not out of options just because you’re past the ideal age window. Thanks to innovations in modern orthodontics, you can pursue treatment with more confidence than ever!

Clear aligners like Invisalign offer you the option to straighten your teeth without using braces, in a way that keeps you looking professional at work and feeling confident in your smile. As great of a benefit as a straight, even smile and increased confidence is, there are plenty of other, more practical benefits to straightening your smile. One of the biggest of these benefits is that straight, evenly-spaced teeth are easier to brush and floss thoroughly, which helps you lower your chances of getting cavities or gum disease. 

It can also provide relief from TMJ pain and frequent headaches or help prevent the development of TMJ issues in the future. With discreet treatment options and benefits like these, it’s no wonder that orthodontic treatment has become more popular than ever among adults—and grows more and more common every year!

Start with an orthodontic evaluation.

Modern dentistry technology and techniques have ensured that orthodontic treatments can benefit anyone regardless of their age, but there is definitely an ideal age for your child to have their first orthodontic consultation and to undergo any orthodontic treatments they may need. 

If it’s time for your child to have their first consultation or if you’re interested in learning more about orthodontics for adults from an orthodontic dentist in Wilson, NC, feel free to call and schedule a consultation at any time.