subject: When Is The Right Time To Get Braces? [print this page] Many people are under the misconception that braces must be placed on the teeth in a person's teenage years. In fact, this idea is so prevalent that the image of an awkward teenager wearing braces has become all but entrenched in our culture. While it is very common for people to receive braces in their teens instead of as adults or children, the truth is that braces can be applied any time a person has all of his or her adult teeth and the braces themselves can be afforded.
There are certainly some advantages to giving a teenager braces. Teenagers are still growing, and the fact that their jaws are still developing usually means that they will have to wear braces for a shorter amount of time. Younger teeth and jaws are simply more malleable than adult mouths, so they will respond to braces better than adults would. This however does not mean that adults cannot wear braces. 25 percent of orthodontic patients who wear braces are adults, but since an adult's mouth is fully formed he or she will need to wear the braces for a longer period of time than a young person would.
Many experts recommend that children who may need braces at some point in their lives visit an orthodontist early. While braces shouldn't be applied to a child who doesn't have all of his or her permanent teeth for obvious reasons, an orthodontist can still make an examination and determine what kind of orthodontic work, if any, should be done. In many cases where braces are needed, an orthodontist must perform some preliminary work as well. Much like the braces themselves, these procedures are usually more effective when done at a young age. Much like young age and a still-developing jawline, these preliminary procedures often mean that the patient has to wear braces for a shorter period of time.
To answer the question at hand, there is no "right time" for a person to get braces. Many adults have braces that were applied long after their teenage years, and while they often have to wear them for a longer period of time the braces themselves will still perform the desired function of straightening the teeth. They do tend to be far more effective when applied during one's teenage years, however; it is recommended that a person be examined at a young age to determine if braces will be necessary later in life no matter when that may be.
