When Should My Child See an Orthodontist? A Parent's Guide to Early Orthodontic Care

With all dental problems, it’s nearly always best left to the experts. So, as long as you are taking your child to the dentist every 6 months, you can guarantee that their dentist will let you know if they could benefit from orthodontics.

What is the difference between a dentist and an orthodontist?

Both are dentists, but an orthodontist will specialise in fitting braces and planning orthodontic treatment. Any dentist can check your child’s teeth and determine if they need braces or not, but once you’re ready to start the treatment, they will have to be referred to an orthodontist.

Many people are surprised to learn that their usual family dentist is also an orthodontist, so it’s always worth asking before you start looking elsewhere. And if they aren’t an orthodontist, there may be someone else in their practice they can refer you to.

Should I take my child to an orthodontist?

If your child is seeing a family dentist regularly, there is a good chance that their dentist will be monitoring their teeth for alignment problems. This means you don’t have to take your child to an orthodontist until your dentist recommends a referral.

If you ask your dentist about braces and they tell you that your child doesn’t need treatment, you are of course welcome to seek a second opinion. This may help to alleviate any concerns you might have about your child’s oral health.

Another dentist might agree with you that your child could benefit from orthodontics, or they might suggest that you wait and see how the teeth emerge before taking any further action.

What age can a child start orthodontic treatment?

We typically start to monitor a child’s teeth from the age of 10. Treatment would typically start between the ages of 10 and 14. However, in some cases it could start as young as 7 if there is a clinical need to take early action. This will usually involve making space for the teeth to emerge correctly if there is a risk of overcrowding.

Orthodontic treatment can start at any age, so if your child misses the threshold for free NHS orthodontics, this doesn’t mean they can never have treatment. It simply means that the treatment will need to be privately funded.

What are the best types of braces for children?

While Invisalign might be growing in popularity, this isn’t always the best choice for young children. Children will need to be very organised to remember to put in their aligners and to take them out during meal times. For ease and peace of mind, parents will often prefer that their child wear fixed metal braces.

The treatment plan for fixed metal braces is often much easier to follow. It also removes the risk that your child could forget to wear their braces, or deliberately stop wearing them, which could derail the treatment plan.

Older children may benefit from clear aligners if they are concerned that their self-esteem might be impacted by wearing fixed braces. In this case, it could be worth exploring ceramic fixed braces as a compromise.

How do I get my child assessed for braces?

The first step is to book a routine checkup with one of our dentists. Let them know you are thinking about children’s orthodontics and we’ll take it from there.