How to Tell if Your Child Needs Braces

And what is the best age to get them?

The best age varies from patient to patient. Orthodontic treatment most commonly begins between ages 9 and 14 because kids in this age range have at least some permanent teeth and are still growing. If you’re wondering if your child needs braces, here is a checklist of things to look for:

• Early, late, or irregular loss of baby teeth.
• Difficulty in chewing or biting.
• Mouth breathing.
• Thumb or finger sucking.
• Crowded, misplaced, or blocked-out teeth.
• Jaws that shift, make sounds, protrude, or are recessed.
• Biting the cheek or roof of the mouth.
• Teeth that meet abnormally or not at all.
• Jaws and teeth that are out of proportion to the rest of the face.

If your child has any of these signs or you just want to know, you can always check in with Dr. Dunne at your child’s next visit and he can evaluate your kiddo’s teeth. If he thinks your child does need to see an orthodontist, he will refer you to one.