How Do You Know if Your Child Needs Braces?
25 Jun 2024
The most reliable way to determine whether your child needs braces is through an orthodontic assessment. Crooked or crowded teeth can be obvious signs, but orthodontists look beyond appearance and evaluate how the teeth fit together, available space, permanent tooth development, the bite, and jaw growth.
Some children may benefit from orthodontic treatment, while others may simply need to be monitored as their teeth and jaws continue to develop.
How Does an Orthodontist Determine If a Child Needs Braces?
An orthodontist determines whether braces may be beneficial by examining the position of your child’s teeth, how the upper and lower teeth fit together, the amount of space available for permanent teeth, and how the jaws are developing.
Orthodontic records or imaging may also be recommended when appropriate to better understand tooth position and development.
The assessment helps determine not only whether treatment is needed, but also what type of treatment may be appropriate and when it should begin.
What Signs Should Parents Watch for at Home?
Parents may notice crowded or crooked teeth, unusual gaps, difficulty biting or chewing, or a bite that doesn’t appear to fit together comfortably. Permanent teeth coming in out of position or noticeable changes in the jaws may also be worth having assessed.
These signs don’t confirm that braces are needed, but they can indicate that an orthodontic evaluation would be helpful.
See our complete guide to 11 signs your child might need braces.
Think Your Child Might Need Braces?
If braces are the right fit, we can often get treatment started that same day.
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Does Every Child With Crooked Teeth Need Braces?
No. Crooked teeth don’t automatically mean your child needs braces. An orthodontist considers the overall position of the teeth, the bite, available space, jaw development, and how your child’s permanent teeth are coming in before recommending treatment.
In some cases, treatment may be appropriate. In others, the orthodontist may recommend monitoring your child’s development before making a decision.
Can a Child Need Braces Even If Their Teeth Look Straight?
Yes. Some orthodontic problems involve the way the upper and lower teeth fit together rather than how straight the teeth look from the front.
A child can have relatively straight-looking teeth and still have a bite or jaw-alignment concern that isn’t immediately obvious to a parent.
This is one reason an orthodontic assessment looks at the entire bite rather than appearance alone.
What Does an Orthodontist Check to Determine If Braces Are Needed?
1. Tooth Alignment and Spacing
The orthodontist will look at how your child’s teeth are positioned and whether there is enough room for permanent teeth.
Significant crowding, overlapping teeth, unusual spacing, or teeth erupting out of position may indicate an orthodontic concern that should be evaluated.
2. How the Bite Fits Together
Straight-looking teeth don’t always mean the bite is properly aligned. The orthodontist will examine how the upper and lower teeth meet when your child closes their mouth.
This can help identify bite concerns such as an overbite, underbite, crossbite, or other alignment problems.
3. Jaw Development
The position and development of the jaws can affect how the upper and lower teeth fit together.
An orthodontist can evaluate your child’s jaw development alongside their tooth alignment and bite to determine whether treatment or continued monitoring may be appropriate.
4. Permanent Tooth Development
The assessment also considers which permanent teeth have erupted and how the remaining teeth are developing.
This can help determine whether there is enough space for permanent teeth and whether the timing is appropriate for treatment.
5. Orthodontic Records
Depending on your child’s needs, the orthodontist may recommend photographs, digital scans, X-rays, or other orthodontic records.
These records can provide additional information about tooth position and development and help the orthodontist create an appropriate treatment plan.
What Problems Can Braces Help Correct?
| Orthodontic Concern | What It Means |
| Crowding | There isn’t enough room for the teeth to sit in proper alignment. |
| Spacing | There are larger or unusual spaces between teeth. |
| Overbite | The upper front teeth overlap the lower front teeth more than expected. |
| Underbite | The lower front teeth sit ahead of the upper front teeth when biting. |
| Crossbite | One or more upper teeth sit inside the lower teeth when biting. |
| Tooth alignment | Teeth may be crooked, rotated, overlapping, or erupting out of position. |
Think Your Child Might Need Braces?
If braces are the right fit, we can often get treatment started that same day.
"*" indicates required fields
What If My Child Doesn’t Need Braces Yet?
If your child doesn’t need braces right away, the orthodontist may recommend monitoring their development rather than beginning treatment.
Monitoring allows the orthodontic team to observe how permanent teeth erupt and how the teeth, bite, and jaws change as your child grows. If treatment becomes appropriate later, the orthodontist can recommend when to begin.
Learn more about when a child should start braces.
What Happens If My Child Does Need Braces?
If the orthodontic assessment shows that your child could benefit from braces, the orthodontist will explain what needs to be corrected and recommend an appropriate treatment plan.
The next steps may include orthodontic records or imaging, discussing treatment options and timing, and scheduling treatment once your child is ready.
If you’re wondering how long treatment may take, read our guide to how long you need to wear braces.
How Can You Find Out If Your Child Needs Braces?
You don’t need to determine whether your child needs braces on your own. An orthodontic assessment can evaluate their teeth, bite, tooth development, and jaw growth and determine whether treatment is recommended.
If braces aren’t needed yet, the orthodontist may recommend monitoring your child’s development and reassessing them at the appropriate time.
Kids Dental Group provides orthodontic assessments and treatment options based on each child’s individual needs.
Schedule an Orthodontic Consultation
Frequently Asked Questions About Whether a Child Needs Braces
How do I know if my child actually needs braces?
An orthodontic assessment is the most reliable way to know. An orthodontist evaluates tooth alignment, spacing, the bite, permanent tooth development, and jaw growth before determining whether braces or another orthodontic treatment may be appropriate.
Can my child need braces if their teeth aren’t very crooked?
Yes. Braces and other orthodontic treatments can address bite and alignment concerns that may not be obvious from looking at the front of the teeth. Straight-looking teeth don’t necessarily mean the bite is properly aligned.
Does an overbite mean my child needs braces?
Not necessarily. The presence of an overbite alone doesn’t determine whether braces are needed. An orthodontist needs to assess the bite relationship along with your child’s teeth and jaw development.
What happens if my child doesn’t need braces right now?
The orthodontist may recommend monitoring your child’s teeth and jaw development. This allows treatment to begin later if and when it becomes appropriate.
