The short answer is anytime…you can have orthodontics at any age as long as your gums are healthy.

A specialist orthodontist will usually like to see a child for assessment just before their last baby teeth are lost.  There is a wide range of normal for this, with some children losing all their baby teeth by 8 or 9, and some still having some baby teeth at 15 and beyond.

If you are not sure, or you have concerns, check with your family dentist.

Early visits

You may wish to bring your child to the specialist orthodontist for an opinion if you or your family dentist spots an issue with your child’s bite early.

Some problems that may need early intervention include:

• Early loss of baby teeth
  If a baby tooth has been taken out or is lost before the adult tooth underneath it is ready to erupt, a space maintainer may avoid future crowding issues.
• Severe crowding
  Sometimes the front adult teeth are obviously crowded as soon as they come through
• Asymmetry (one side of the mouth looking different from the other)
  The teeth and bite should be symmetrical (more or less the same on the right and the left of the mouth). If you see a difference, or you notice that your child has to shift their jaw from one side to another in order to get a comfortable bite there may be an asymmetrical bite that could benefit from early treatment
• Very prominent upper front teeth
  If a child’s teeth are prominent, they can be vulnerable to being broken or knocked out because they are not protected by the lips.
• Traumatic bite
  If there is a big overlap at the lower front teeth, they might be biting against the palate and it can be very uncomfortable for the child.

Anyone can have orthodontics at any age, it’s never too late, but sometimes having an early assessment can help.