Isn’t 6 yrs old child young for dental braces?
Question
My son is 6 yrs old. His bottom teeth are over his top teeth. He’s already chipped one tooth on top. I was told he should have braces put on now, to prevent major surgery later? Isn’t 6 yrs old young for braces? If not, any advice you can provide?
Answer
Rating: -1
For an age of 6 years it is not at all advised to get the braces treatment done.
The chipping and overlapping of lower teeth on the upper ones is due to the milk teeth and not the permanent ones as all the permanent teeth are yet to erupt.
The milk teeth once fallen, would be then guiding the permanent teeth to erupt and based on when the milk teeth were lost, the placement and the occluding of permanent teeth is done.
One can't decide whether to go with a treatment at this age, because the actual crooked teeth and misalignment is checked only after all the permanent teeth have come out.
So you don't need to worry about that already. Just try to make sure that the child is having all the permanent teeth coming out in a proper way, by regularly visiting the dentist.
Usually any orthodontic treatment with braces is done only after 12 years of age, when the molars too have erupted out of the jaw bone.
Dr. Chetan
