When is the best time to get braces?

The short answer is now.  Anytime you feel that your bite or smile is not all that it should be is the time to get braces. 

Orthodontics can be done at any age.  My oldest patient was about 80 when we began her treatment.  She was always self-conscious of her smile and was thrilled to see her beautiful smile when we finished.  No, we did not give her full braces, but did limited treatment to address her problems.  It seemed odd to me that none of her dentists recommended orthodontic treatment prior to this time, but this goes to illustrate that many dentists won’t broach the subject, unless the patient does first.  Over the years, I have encountered this phenomenon many times.  The patient will see a new dentist who is more comfortable discussing how a person feels about his or her smile.  A good dentist may present several options to treat a dental problem, including orthodontic treatment.

Orthodontic treatment is not just about straightening the teeth, its about self esteem, self confidence.  I have another patient who is a bit older, over 6 decades. When she came into the office she instictively covered her mouth when she smiled.  In bringing out her reasons for seeking care she broke down and wept that she had always hated her smile.  She had spaces between all her front teeth.  She had raised her children and though she was of modest means, she said it was finally time to do something for herself. 

Many adults put off seeking care because of fear of the unknown.  Cost, pain, time commitment, afraid of 'brace face' are all reasons given for failing to consider orthodontic care.  The options and advances in orthodontic treatment coupled with flexible payment options, all of these objections can be overcome.