The American Association of Orthodontists recommends that all children be evaluated by an orthodontist at age seven. However, just a small percentage of these children will need to be treated this early. Yet at this age, it’s important to ask this question: If we don’t treat the patient now, will we miss a window of opportunity that will negatively affect the child’s outcome?

Orthodontists generally agree that the best time to treat children with braces is between the ages of nine and 12 with girls, and between 10 and 14 with boys. That’s because girls typically develop faster than boys. At this age, baby teeth are out, the head and mouth are both still growing, and teeth are more conducive to straightening.

Once a child reaches age 16 or 17, they have usually stopped growing and the jaw becomes harder and more fixed. At this stage, it will usually take longer to straighten the teeth with braces. Additionally, wearing braces no longer has the stigma for tweens and teens that it once did — and with all of the options available to customize, braces can actually be fun! In the past, kids might have felt self-conscious with braces, but now they commonly view them as a stepping stone toward a healthy smile. To make things even more fun, ceramic braces are available in many cases and come in many colors. We can make them match tooth color!

Invisible braces can also be an option depending on the exact condition that is being treated. And even if a child requires metal braces because of a more severe misalignment of teeth, they are much smaller than they used to be. Rubber bands used on brackets also come in many colors and can be changed out between visits.