Your tween is headed to middle school. With this rite of passage comes another common milestone for many kids – braces. There is a big question for many parents though: If my child still has baby teeth, do they even qualify for braces yet? Every orthodontic treatment is customized to the patient, and there are many reasons your middle-schooler could get braces sooner rather than later, even if they’re still holding onto some baby teeth.
Every Patient Is Different
Depending on your child’s sex assigned at birth, their dental development is likely to vary.
- Girls tend to lose all their baby teeth earlier than boys.
- Girls may get through their entire orthodontic treatment before a boy their age even qualifies for braces.
- The typical age for braces for a tween or teen is around 11 or 12, but some kids can start earlier and others much later.
The Role of Baby Teeth
If your child had Phase I orthodontics, like an expander, several brackets, and a retainer, they are already familiar with orthodontic treatment.
- The presence of baby teeth doesn’t impede early orthodontic treatment.
- During early intervention, many baby teeth are still in place, and these primary teeth have important roles when it comes to chewing, spacing, and speech development.
- No matter the age of the patient, orthodontic treatment is first and foremost focused on correcting bite and misalignment, baby teeth or no.
Baby Teeth Don’t Stop Braces
Ideally, kids get braces when all baby teeth are lost, and all permanent teeth have developed. However, modern braces are, well, beautifully modern.
- If a pesky molar that just won’t come out needs to be extracted, conventional metal braces can still be put around the area and serve as a placeholder until the tooth grows in.
- A bracket can go on the tooth as soon as it is visible, guiding it where it’s meant to go.
- Your child’s orthodontist will monitor tooth loss and permanent tooth eruption through regular checkups to determine the best time to initiate treatment.
The Importance of Orthodontic Evaluations
Don’t try to evaluate your tween or teen’s orthodontic needs yourself. There is a lot going on in a child’s mouth to be evaluated and it goes beyond what’s visible.
- X-rays and other digital images show what’s happening under the surface. These informative glimpses into dental development are fascinating to see and give your orthodontist a clear picture of just how viable braces are now, six months from now, or at a completely different time.
- If your child has never had an orthodontic evaluation, do not delay, especially if their teeth look crowded or are obviously out of alignment.
- Don’t worry so much about baby teeth and how many your child has left to lose – instead focus on the overall picture of their alignment with the help of your orthodontist so they’re on track to a healthy, strong, pain-free smile.
Visit Your Woodinville Orthodontist
Whether your child is in elementary school or middle school or high school or beyond, get an evaluation from Dr. Soleil at Soleil Orthodontics in Woodinville, WA, to find out what type of orthodontic treatment is best. Baby teeth might still be hanging on, but braces are still possible.
