When Should Your Child Start Braces?

Oraderm Care Clinic
Jul 16
2 min read

Updated: Aug 7

At Oraderm Care Clinic, we help you understand the right time to begin orthodontic treatment for your child. Early guidance means a healthier, straighter smile that lasts a lifetime!

Our experienced team is here to guide you through every step, ensuring your child receives personalized care at the perfect time for their unique smile.

Start with a Check-Up by Age 7

We recommend bringing your child in for their first orthodontic evaluation by age 7.

Even if they don't need braces yet, early checks help us catch:

Jaw growth issues
Bite problems
Spacing or crowding
Habits like thumb sucking

What We Do in Pre-Ortho Treatment

Interceptive treatment often begins before all adult teeth come in. It can include simple appliances to guide jaw growth, create space, and avoid complex future treatments.

Understanding Phase One Treatment

Phase 1 usually starts around ages 7-10, while your child still has a mix of baby and permanent teeth.

In this stage, we focus on:

Creating room for growing teeth
Supporting jaw balance
Preventing complex issues early

What Happens in Phase 2?

Once all the permanent teeth are in (usually ages 11-14), we move into the Phase 2. This is where we align teeth and fine-tune your child's bite and smile for long-term stability.

What Are the Differences Between Pre-Ortho, Phase 1, and Phase 2?

Stage	Typical Age	What It Is	Purpose
Pre-Ortho	Around age 7 (first ortho check-up)	Initial evaluation before braces	Detect potential problems early and plan treatment
Phase 1	~7–10 years (mixed dentition: baby + permanent teeth)	Early limited treatment	Guide jaw growth, create space, reduce severity of future problems
Phase 2	~11–14 years (permanent dentition)	Full braces or aligners	Align teeth, refine bite, achieve final smile and stability