There’s a multitude of reasons why someone should wear braces. From misalignments, crooked teeth, and other types of dental issues, braces could help improve your smile in a wide range of ways.
Even though these dental procedures are quite often associated with younger teens and children, there’s no age limit to wearing braces. However, the process does vary depending on your age, which is what we’ll further analyze in this short article.
Braces for young children
Generally speaking, braces aren’t recommended for children under the age of eleven. Since their mouths and teeth are still quite underdeveloped, their circumstances could change drastically in a short period of time and many of their dental issues could be resolved on their own. That’s why dentists usually recommend aligners and other types of retainers for patients in this particular age group.
Besides all that, younger children may not be capable of taking proper care of their teeth once they get their braces. As you already know, dental hygiene becomes much more complex when you have your braces on.
In some cases, the dentists and orthodontists might notice the need for braces even when the child still doesn’t have all of their permanent teeth. In those instances, they’ll usually make a long-term plan for the child in question, so they can monitor their teeth as time passes.
Braces for young teens
Young teens and children between 11-15 years of age are considered an „ideal“ age group for braces and other types of corrective treatment. Their mouths and teeth are still developing, but are developed enough to benefit from the procedure, which in turn makes the entire process faster and more effective in the long run.
Apart from that, young teens are perfectly capable of taking care of their braces and they’re able to withstand the pain and discomfort that comes with the dental device itself, which is certainly an important factor that should be considered.
Braces for adults
Braces in adults are much more common than you think. Many dental issues could only be identified later in life, especially when your wisdom teeth start growing. Besides, as braces can be quite expensive, not everyone has access to them during their childhood.
So, if you think it’s too late for you to get your braces, you’re completely wrong! As noted at Dentalign, braces can be equally beneficial to adults as they’d be to a person in their teens.
You’ll probably have to wear them longer than a teen would, but it can certainly pay off, especially if you have issues with your jaw or your bite.
The bottom line
Overall, there’s no age limit to wearing braces! Getting them in your teens might be the most common solution, but it’s far from being the only choice you have. Either way, make sure you choose your orthodontist as carefully as you can.
We hope our article helped you on your way to getting that perfect smile and we wish you the best of luck in all of your future endeavors.
