How Old Should My Child Be to Get Braces?

Victoria Point is a coastal suburb situated in Redland City. In recent years, more and more people have moved to the locality, with the total estimated population surpassing 15,000 based on the 2016 census. With more residents to serve, you can expect the neighbourhood also to grow. In recent years, shopping centres opened in Victoria Point, such as Lakeside and TownCentre, as well as other retail shops, and the well-established mom-and-pop stores that have been there since forever.

If your child is asking to get their teeth fixed, how do you know when they should get braces? Fortunately, you do not have to go far to find a dentist in Victoria Point for the braces. You can find one right within the locality. 

But back to the question. 

Right now, over 300,000 Australians wear dental braces, but a good number of them are 19 years old and older. Not a lot of children wear corrective braces because their parents naturally wait for their children’s growth spurt to slow down.

However,  you can bring your child to the orthodontist as early as ten years old. The dentist will assess whether they are already a candidate for the corrective procedure. Most children fitted with braces are between 10 and 14 years old. 

Yes, your child is still growing, which means drastic changes to the head, jaw, and mouth. But it is easy to make adjustments to the teeth since they are more adaptable. You should also take into consideration the discomfort associated with braces. 

Although they can be minimised under the supervision of a good dentist, your child may experience the following:

  • From mild discomfort to pain
  • Trouble eating and sleeping
  • Allergic reaction
  • Gum irritation and bleeding
  • Jaw pain
  • Root resorption

So, you have to make sure that your child is mentally and physically prepared to handle the side effects of fixed braces. However, new technology like invisible braces will help fix your child’s teeth without the corresponding discomfort and inconvenience. Ask your dentist in Victoria Point how.

How Much do Braces Cost?

The cost of the procedure will depend on the product brand, the gravity of the problem to be corrected, and even the location. For instance, orthodontics is more costly in Sydney because of the high cost of living. Also, if you have a dental plan, it will significantly reduce the cost of the treatment since insurance already covers braces. 

Another factor is if you select metal braces or invisible braces for your kids. A metal brace for the standard 18-month treatment will start at $2,000. Invisalign, meanwhile, is more costly as it starts at around $4,000 up to $9,000. 

But a dentist in Victoria Point will recommend invisible braces for children because they are less uncomfortable and easier to clean. Unlike with fixed braces, you can take out the contraption when eating and sleeping while achieving the same results.

It is better to wait for your child to grow older before going through the procedure. But of course, you can’t wait if the crooked teeth already impair their ability to eat or they already make them insecure enough that the state of their chompers already affects their mental health. Talk to the dentist so you can plan together on how to move forward.