Best Age for Your Child to Get Braces (HINT IT IS 7 YEARS)
As a parent, you may be asking yourself such a question as “What age should a child get braces?” as this is an important thing to identify and understand before you make a substantial investment in getting orthodontic braces for your child. By providing you with the answers to these questions, you should be able to make a more informed decision about when to start looking at options for braces for your child.
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What is the Best Age to Get Braces?
When you’re wondering “What is the best age to get braces?” There are a variety of answers to this question. If you notice that your child has teeth that are misaligned or substantially crooked, taking them to an orthodontist is recommended, no matter how old they are.
Once you do, your orthodontist will be able to help you determine when the best age to get braces is for your child. It’s important to understand that there’s no specific age that your child should definitively get their braces at. Although it’s best to avoid them before the age of 6-7. The vast majority of orthodontists will recommend that your child goes to their first orthodontic appointment at age 7, which is around the time you might want to consider braces.
Another way to determine when your child should get braces is to schedule an appointment with your orthodontist. This is once you’ve noticed orthodontic problems in your child, getting braces early will allow their teeth to develop properly.
Keeping an eye on things…
Because it’s so important to have these braces applied to the teeth shortly after orthodontic issues begin to develop, you will need to keep an eye on your child’s teeth in order to better identify such issues as an overbite, underbite, additional bite alignment issues, crowding problems, protruding teeth, and crooked teeth. In most cases, these problems aren’t too difficult to identify.
Although seven is considered to be one of the best ages for your child’s first visit to an orthodontist. Many orthodontists believe that the prime age range for teeth straightening is between the ages of 10-15. As the teeth are still growing in this period, making the teeth straightening process more successful. However, it’s important that you’re aware of the fact that each mouth is different, so the ideal age for one child may not be the ideal age for another.
How Much Do Braces Cost for Your Child?
When you’re trying to decide whether or not your little one should get braces, you might wish to know more about how much these braces typically cost. The costs associated with braces depends primarily on the material used for these braces. As well as how long your child will need to wear them in order for their teeth to be straightened.
The average cost of braces is around $4,500-$6,000, but the costs can range anywhere from $2,500-$10,000. One of the primary reasons that these costs can vary dramatically is due to the fact that orthodontic treatment is typically personalized for each patient instead of being one-size-fits-all.
If you want a better idea of what the braces you choose will cost. You should first identify the type of braces that your child is going to wear. There are four general types of braces. Including those of metal, ceramic, lingual, and Invisalign, with metal and Invisalign braces typically being the more affordable options, although ceramic and lingual types have their own benefits for you to consider.
All About the Money…
Metal braces will usually range anywhere from $2,500-$6,000, while lingual braces tend to range from $8,000-$10,000. The other two types are usually more expensive than metal braces but cheaper than lingual ones. You should also ask your orthodontist about how long you will be required to wear your braces, as this plays a large role in how much they will cost.
While metal braces are commonly selected for their low cost as well as how quickly they move a person’s teeth. The other three types of braces are hardly visible, allowing you to wear the braces without them changing your appearance too much.
The usage of braces for children is typically cheaper than it is for adults. Although the costs aren’t substantially lower in the majority of cases. On average, you can expect to pay 3-4% less for a child’s braces than for adult braces. If your child currently has a dental insurance plan, you should also read through the details of this plan to identify whether or not any of the treatment is covered by your insurance.
There’s More…
In most situations, your insurance will only cover a portion of the costs associated with this treatment. But that portion can be sizable and may allow you to substantially reduce the amount that you’ll need to pay out of pocket. When you select braces for your child, you will typically pay on a monthly basis throughout the course of treatment.
When considering the costs that you will be required to pay for the orthodontic braces you select for your child. The reason that dental insurance doesn’t typically cover much if any of the costs associated with these braces is because they are considered to be cosmetic procedures. Which means that there’s no immediate reason that the procedure is necessary.
Here’s the Kicker…
However, there are cases where the issues with a child’s teeth are so severe that they cause additional health issues. In this event, your orthodontist may determine that the procedure associated with braces is a medically relevant one as opposed to a cosmetic one. When you want to ascertain the costs of braces for your child, make sure to speak with your child’s orthodontist. As well as the company that handles your dental insurance plan.
If you believe that your child should get orthodontic braces in the near future schedule your first consultation with Dr. Gluck.
Contact us for a legendary and one-of-a-kind experience
Gluck Orthodontics
2002 Richard Jones Road,
Suite A-200
Nashville, TN 37215
Phone: 615 269 5903
Best Age for [Your Child] to Get Braces

Dr. Joel Gluck has practiced orthodontics since 1983 when he opened his own office in Nashville. He earned his undergraduate degree at Washington University in St. Louis, and his dental degree at the University of Tennessee. Dr. Gluck then completed an orthodontic specialty residency at the University of Michigan, one of the top five orthodontic training residencies in the country. He also wrote an original thesis and received a Master of Science degree.
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