Have you been wondering if braces are the right choice for your child, but you're not sure if they're ready? If so, it helps to know some of the signs that an orthodontist will look for to determine if they are a good candidate for braces. 

Age

It's possible for a child to be too young for braces. That's because you need to have certain teeth in place to act as anchors for the braces. This includes the front teeth and first molars, which will be the key to the whole alignment process. Without those teeth in place, there is not much an orthodontist can do for your child.

Spacing and Crowding

A common reason that parents seek out braces is that they see an excessive amount of spacing between their child's teeth. Excessive space is not good when teeth are growing in. Your orthodontist may recommend braces because of spacing issues and how they'll impact teeth that haven't grown in. 

On the opposite end, teeth that are too crowded are not going to allow other teeth to come in as well. An orthodontist can use braces to push these teeth back to the position they are supposed to be in to help make room for future teeth.

Open Bite and Deep Bite 

An open bite is when you close your mouth to bite down and your front teeth do not come together. This problem can be caused by a variety of different reasons, such as thumb sucking at a young age. A deep bite is when you have an overbite that is too big and can cause damage to your front teeth. Braces can help correct a deep bite so that the pressure is not being put on the front teeth and keep them in good condition. 

Crossbite and Underbite

It is normal for the top teeth to be in front of the bottom teeth when you bite down. If those teeth are aligned the opposite way, with the bottom teeth in front, this is known as a crossbite. This is another problem that can cause damage to the front teeth over time as there is no bone for those bottom teeth to press against. 

If your child has all of their bottom teeth in front of their top teeth, this is known as an underbite. Be aware that this can require reverse pull headgear in order to correct it, but it is crucial that it is done at a young age when it's easy to correct.

Contact an orthodontist for more information.