Braces for Children You may not have considered orthodontics for your child yet, and you may think that your child does not need dental braces until all of the baby teeth have fallen out. While this may be the case, the American Association of Orthodontists recommends that children see an orthodontist by age 7. This is because some orthodontic problems are easier corrected when the child is younger. Waiting to get braces or starting orthodontic treatment after all permanent teeth have erupted may lead to difficulty in correcting some types of orthodontic problems. By age 7, most children will have begun growing in some permanent molars and incisors so the orthodontist can evaluate if there is an existing problem. When you bring your child in for an initial orthodontic exam, the orthodontist will examine your child's teeth for any crowding, bite, or jaw problems. If your orthodontist does not detect a problem, they can determine a time frame for a future evaluation so that a problem does not go undetected. If your orthodonist does not detect a problem, they may recommend starting treatment now or waiting until the jaws are further developed or more permanent teeth have erupted to start treatment. For every patient, there is an ideal time to start orthodontic treatment and your orthodontist will help you determine when that ideal time is. Depending on your child's orthodontic needs, the goals of treatment will vary and may include making space for the permanent teeth to erupt, straightening crooked teeth, closing spaces between the front teeth, decreasing trauma risk associated with protruded, buck teeth, guiding jaw growth, correcting harmful habits, or improving self-esteem.  

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