Braces for Kids vs Adults: What Is the Difference?

Information provided by Dr.Raungyos Onsaard | TDH Dental

“What is the best age for braces?” is a question many people ask, especially parents who notice crowded, protruding or misaligned teeth in their child, and adults who want braces but worry that being 30 or 40 is too late.

In fact, orthodontic treatment can be done at many stages of life, but the goals and treatment approach may differ, because teeth, the bone that supports them and the jaws change with age.

For children, the dentist may take advantage of the period when the teeth and jaws are still growing to correct certain bite problems early on. Adults can also have their teeth moved to correct alignment and bite, but gum health, the condition of the teeth and the limits of a fully grown jaw structure must be taken into account.

Dr.Raungyos Onsaard shared information on the importance of age in orthodontic treatment and the differences between treating children and adults, with the key point that orthodontic treatment should be planned to suit each person’s growth and type of problem.

So the important question is not only “At what age can I get braces?” but also “When should my teeth and jaw problems be addressed?”

What is the best age for braces?

Around ages 6-13 is an important period for tooth and jaw development. Many children begin to get permanent teeth replacing baby teeth, and the jaws are still growing.

This age range gives the dentist an opportunity to detect bite problems and consider certain types of care that may make use of growth.

However, this does not mean every child must start braces between ages 6 and 13, or that braces will not work after age 13.

The right age depends on many factors, such as:

• Whether the problem comes from tooth position or jaw structure

• How far the baby teeth and permanent teeth have progressed

• How much growth the child has remaining

• The severity of crowding, protruding teeth or crossbite

• Readiness and cooperation in using orthodontic appliances

Some children may benefit from treatment during the mixed dentition stage, while others are better suited to monitoring and starting braces once more permanent teeth have come in.

The best age is therefore the age that suits each person’s problem, not one age for everyone.

Why is age 7 an important time for a children’s orthodontic check-up?

The American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) recommends that children have an orthodontic evaluation when a problem is noticed, or no later than age 7.

This is because many children at this age have both baby teeth and permanent teeth, which allows the dentist to evaluate the eruption path of the teeth, the space for permanent teeth and the relationship of the jaws.

A check-up at this stage may help detect certain problems, such as:

• Underbite (lower teeth overlapping the upper teeth)

• Crossbite on one side

• Significantly protruding front teeth

• Permanent teeth erupting in the wrong position

• Crowded teeth or insufficient space for permanent teeth

• Abnormal jaw growth

However, a check-up at age 7 does not mean every child must start wearing braces right away.

The dentist may recommend monitoring development until the right time for treatment.

What are the 3 phases of children’s orthodontic treatment?

Bite care in children can be described in 3 main approaches according to the stage of development and the goal of treatment: prevention, correcting problems at an early stage, and comprehensive braces once more permanent teeth have erupted.

Phase 1: Preventive care (Preventive Orthodontics)

Care at this stage focuses on preventing factors that may interfere with tooth eruption or bite development.

It can be considered from the baby teeth stage, and is not limited to starting at ages 6-7.

Examples of care include:

• Assessing persistent thumb-sucking or pacifier habits

• Caring for baby teeth to prevent premature loss

• Using space maintainers when indicated

• Monitoring the eruption of permanent teeth

• Assessing crossbite or other bite abnormalities from an early stage

The goal is to help tooth and bite development proceed appropriately and reduce the chance that certain problems become more severe.

Phase 2: Early orthodontic treatment (Interceptive Orthodontics)

This is treatment considered during the mixed dentition stage, when both baby teeth and permanent teeth are in the mouth, usually at around ages 6-12, although the actual age range varies.

At this stage, the dentist may consider correcting problems that could benefit from treatment before all the permanent teeth have erupted, such as:

• Crossbite that makes the jaw shift when biting

• A narrow upper jaw in some cases

• Significantly protruding upper front teeth that are at risk of injury

• Certain types of permanent teeth erupting in the wrong position

• Habits that continue to affect the bite

Appliances may be fixed, removable, or special appliances for early treatment, depending on the indication.

However, early treatment does not mean every child will avoid needing braces later, because some may need a second phase of treatment afterward.

Phase 3: Comprehensive orthodontic treatment (Comprehensive Orthodontic Treatment)

Many children have all or nearly all of their permanent teeth by early adolescence, usually around ages 11-13, though this varies with development.

At this stage, the dentist can evaluate the alignment of the permanent teeth and the overall bite to consider comprehensive braces.

Examples of goals include:

• Aligning crowded or spaced teeth

• Adjusting the relationship between the upper and lower teeth

• Correcting deep bite, open bite or crossbite that is suitable for orthodontic treatment

• Adjusting tooth position to support cleaning and chewing

• Planning to keep teeth in place after braces with a retainer

Although ages 11-13 suit many children, this is not a deadline for finishing braces before age 13, because people who start treatment in late adolescence or adulthood can still have braces when indicated.

Can children’s braces really modify jaw growth?

Some types of children’s orthodontic treatment can take advantage of the period when the jaw is still growing, especially to correct problems related to jaw width or certain patterns in the relationship between the teeth and jaws.

For example, a child with a narrow upper jaw and certain types of crossbite may be considered for an upper jaw expander.

A child whose lower teeth overlap the upper teeth because of certain jaw relationships may benefit from an appliance that helps promote growth of the upper jaw, as indicated.

However, braces cannot completely control or stop the growth of the jawbone.

Especially when the lower jaw protrudes because of a difference in bone structure, early treatment may help adjust the bite relationship or reduce severity in some cases, but it cannot always be guaranteed to stop growth of the lower jaw or to avoid surgery later in life.

The type of abnormality, the stage of growth and the limits of each type of appliance should therefore be assessed before planning treatment.

How is orthodontic treatment for adults different from that for children?

In adults, although most of the jawbone has finished growing, the bone around the tooth roots can still respond to orthodontic force through a process of bone remodeling.

This means adults can still have their teeth moved and straightened, even at 20, 30, 40 or older.

What differs from children is that treatment in adults may be limited by a fully grown jaw structure, and the condition of teeth that have been used for many years must be taken into account.

Topic	Braces for children	Braces for adults
Growth	Teeth and jaws are still changing with age	The jaws have generally finished growing
Goals	Prevent and correct certain problems early, and align the teeth	Align the teeth, adjust the bite and possibly prepare space for restorations
Adjusting jaw structure	Appliances that use growth may be used in some cases	Some severe structural abnormalities may require combined surgery
Dental health	Development of baby teeth and permanent teeth must be monitored	Worn teeth, restored teeth and missing teeth must be assessed
Gum health	Gum health must be checked before and during treatment	Very important, especially for people with periodontal disease
Treatment duration	Varies with complexity and growth	Varies with dental health, complexity and treatment plan
Appliances	Fixed braces, removable appliances or children’s appliances	Fixed braces or clear aligners, plus supplementary appliances as indicated

It should therefore not be concluded that adult braces always take longer than children’s, because the speed of tooth movement and treatment duration depend on many factors.

Can you still get braces after age 20?

The answer is yes, provided that the health of your teeth, gums and supporting bone is suitable for treatment.

Although adults cannot use jaw growth as part of treatment the way children can, teeth can still move within the supporting bone through appropriately controlled orthodontic force.

Adults who want braces may have different problems, such as:

• Crowded or spaced teeth

• Teeth that have relapsed after earlier braces

• Teeth that have shifted after losing some teeth

• An abnormal bite that makes chewing uncomfortable

• A need to adjust tooth position before crowns or dental implants

• A wish to improve the appearance of the smile, as appropriate

Before treatment begins, the dentist must examine your oral health and assess whether there is tooth decay, gum disease or other problems that should be treated first.

Can adults aged 30-50 get braces?

Being 30, 40 or 50 years old is not in itself a reason to avoid braces.

What matters is the state of your oral health and the readiness of the tissues that support your teeth.

Some adults may also have other dental health problems, such as:

Tooth wear from use or teeth grinding

The dentist may need to assess the bite and the cause of tooth wear before or during orthodontic planning.

Gum disease and periodontal disease

If periodontal disease is not yet under control, moving teeth may increase the risk of damage to the tissues supporting the teeth, so inflammation should be treated and controlled before braces begin.

Tooth loss

Adults who have lost some teeth may need orthodontic planning combined with restorations or dental implants, so that tooth position and the space for treatment are appropriate.

Jaw structure abnormalities

Some adults with severe differences in jaw position or size may need to consider braces combined with jaw surgery if moving the teeth alone is not enough.

Older patients can therefore still have braces, but treatment planning may require assessment from several perspectives together.

Can braces in adults reshape the face and make you look younger?

Another reason adults are interested in braces is their expectations about the appearance of the smile and face.

When teeth change position, the appearance of the smile and the support of the lips may change as well in some cases.

For example, aligning crowded front teeth may make the smile look more orderly, or adjusting certain types of tooth position may affect lip support.

But braces do not guarantee that the face will look younger, that the lower face height will increase, or that a short chin will be corrected in every case.

This is because changes in the face depend on many factors, such as bone structure, facial proportions, the teeth present, soft tissue and age-related changes.

People with heavily worn teeth or several missing teeth may need restorative dental work to correct chewing and bite problems as well, not braces alone.

Adults who want braces to improve their appearance should therefore talk with their dentist about realistic expected results, including the limits of each method.

Which appliance should you choose for children’s or adult braces?

Today there are several types of orthodontic appliances that can be considered according to age and the nature of the problem.

Invisalign clear aligners

Invisalign is a clear aligner system designed to move teeth according to a treatment plan, using appliances that can be removed.

It may suit teens and adults with alignment or bite problems, as indicated, and requires cooperation in wearing the aligners as instructed.

Invisalign First for children

Invisalign First is a clear aligner system for children in the mixed dentition stage who have suitable indications.

It may be one of the options for early orthodontic treatment, but it is not suitable for every type of problem, and it does not mean every child should start braces with Invisalign First.

TDH SmartBraces

Fixed braces such as TDH SmartBraces are another option for adjusting tooth position and bite, and can be considered for teens or adults as indicated.

The choice of appliance should be based on the complexity of the case, oral health, cooperation with treatment and the patient’s goals, rather than on age or the appearance of the appliance alone.

Frequently asked questions about age and braces (FAQ)

Braces suited to every age at TDH Dental

Braces for children and adults differ according to growth stage, the condition of the teeth and the goals of treatment.

For children, an evaluation from the mixed dentition stage may help detect bite abnormalities and plan treatment at the right time.

Adults, even though the jaws have finished growing, can still have braces to adjust alignment and bite, taking into account the health of the teeth and gums and other treatment when indicated.

Orthodontic treatment is therefore not a race to see who starts earliest, but a matter of choosing the timing and treatment approach that suit each person’s problem.

Parents who want to assess their child’s dental development, or adults considering braces, can have an examination and consultation with the experienced dental team at TDH Dental to assess oral health and consider treatment options such as Invisalign, Invisalign First or TDH SmartBraces, as appropriate.

Because a good smile can begin at any age, with care and treatment planning suited to each individual.

TDH Dental — 20 Years of Trusted Smiles

Dental references

1. American Association of Orthodontists — Orthodontic FAQs Recommendations on the appropriate age for a children’s orthodontic check-up and choosing when to start treatment
   American Association of Orthodontists+1

2. American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry — Management of the Developing Dentition and Occlusion Guidelines for bite care in the baby teeth, mixed dentition and adolescent stages
   aapd.org

3. International Association of Paediatric Dentistry — Management of the Developing Dentition Guidelines on Preventive and Interceptive Orthodontics
   IAPD

4. AAO — How Old Is Too Old for Braces? (2026) Orthodontic treatment in adulthood and its suitability
   American Association of Orthodontists

5. AAO — Adult Orthodontics FAQs Assessing gum health and supporting bone, and choosing orthodontic appliances for adults
   American Association of Orthodontists

6. AAO — Underbite: Causes and Treatment Options Correcting underbite according to age and growth
   AAO

7. Mouth Breathing and Craniofacial Development in Children (2026) Evidence on the relationship between mouth breathing and jaw development
   PubMed

8. NIDCR — Temporomandibular Disorders Limits on claims that braces treat jaw joint pain
   NIDCR