Is There an Ideal Age to Get Braces or Invisalign®?
The best time to straighten your teeth is now. That being said, is it better to start on you or your child’s orthodontic journey earlier if you can? Is there an ideal age to get braces or Invisalign®? We’ll answer these questions and more. After reading, if you’re still not sure about your orthodontic timeline, come into Bethel Dental Clinic in North Dzorwulu, Accra, Ghana, for an in-depth consultation with our team. We can discuss if Invisalign and braces are right for teenage and adult patients.
Stages of Tooth Growth
To understand when the ideal age for braces, Invisalign, and other orthodontic treatments is, we have to look at the stages of tooth growth throughout childhood. While there are no guarantees for when your child will sprout their first tooth, generally this happens around 6 to 12 months.
Tooth growth will continue to occur, leaving your child with a mouth full of baby teeth at around age three. These baby teeth start to come loose at around 6 to 7 years old. By about the age of 12, all of your child’s baby teeth should have fallen out and been replaced by adult teeth.
When Should You Start Orthodontic Treatment?
So, does the best time to start orthodontic treatment start when the baby teeth are completely gone and the adult teeth are growing in? Not necessarily. Starting orthodontic treatment while your child’s baby teeth are still making their way out offers the opportunity for your dentist to begin guiding the growth of teeth as the change is actively happening. Once all of your child’s permanent teeth are in place, a lot of growth has stopped happening, which can make guiding the teeth into their proper position more difficult.
The American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) recommends you see an orthodontist or a dentist who offers orthodontic treatment by age seven. At this time, the baby teeth are starting to fall out, which gives your dentist optimal time to plan treatment for any misalignment issues that may occur and guide the growth of adult teeth into their proper position. Typically, your dentist will recommend braces for children as they are a permanent fixture in the mouth that requires less responsibility than Invisalign.
Can I Still Get Braces or Invisalign as an Adult?
Yes, you can still benefit from braces or Invisalign as an adult. In fact, Invisalign is recommended for adults and teens over children because of the discreet appearance of the product and responsibility required by the patient to complete treatment successfully.
While starting treatment younger can make creating a cohesive bite a more optimized process, the AAO states that “orthodontic treatment can be as successful for adults as it is for adolescents.”
Contact Us to Achieve Your Best Smile at Any Age
No matter your age, you can benefit from braces or Invisalign to correct your uneven bite. The dentists at our Accra office are committed to helping you find the treatment plan that’s right for you, whether you’re 8 or 80. Contact our practice to request a consultation with our team.
