Best Age to Start Braces: Insights from Orthodontists in London
If you’re a parent staring at your child’s slightly crooked teeth, or an adult who’s never been happy with your smile, one question tends to float to the surface:
“What’s the best age to start braces?”
You’ll hear all sorts of answers. Some people swear you should “get them on as early as possible”. Others insist that you should wait until all the adult teeth are through. Then, just to make things more confusing, you see more and more adults in London starting braces or clear aligners well into their 30s, 40s and beyond. So who’s right?
The honest answer from most orthodontists in London is this: there isn’t one magic age that suits everyone. But there are clear guidelines that can help you understand when it’s worth getting an opinion, and why certain ages are ideal for particular types of treatment.
Is There Really a “Best Age” to Start Braces?
There’s a best age range for some problems, but it’s never too late to improve your smile if your teeth and gums are healthy. Orthodontists generally think about age in three broad groups:
- Children: roughly 7–11 years.
- Teenagers: roughly 12–16 years.
- Adults: 17+
Each group has its own advantages and challenges. The timing isn’t just about how the teeth look; it’s also about jaw growth, habits, and long-term stability.
The Ideal Starting Point: Early Orthodontic Assessment
Most orthodontic and dental organisations recommend that children have an orthodontic assessment around the age of 7–8, or earlier if you or your dentist spot obvious problems. Why so young, when the teeth aren’t even all in yet? Because at this stage:
- Children still have a mix of baby and adult teeth.
- The jaws are actively growing.
- Certain bite problems can be guided early, rather than fully fixed later.
- Harmful habits (like thumb sucking or mouth breathing) can be spotted and addressed.
This doesn’t mean braces will definitely go on at 7. In many cases, the orthodontist simply monitors growth every 6–12 months. But that early check-up gives you two big advantages:
- You don’t miss the window for problems that are far easier to correct while the jaw is still growing.
- You get a clear idea of whether your child is likely to need braces in the teenage years, so you can plan ahead emotionally and financially.
If you’re in London, where access to NHS orthodontics often depends on age and the severity of the problem, that early assessment can also help you understand your options sooner rather than later.
Best Age for Full Braces: Why 10–14 Is So Common?
Imagine someone in their early teens, patient with a full set of fixed metal braces. There’s a good reason for that. Most full brace treatments (fixed metal or clear ceramic brackets) are started between the ages of 10 and 14 because:
- Most or all adult teeth have come through.
- The jaw is still growing, which helps with certain bite corrections.
- The bone around the teeth is more responsive to movement than in later adulthood.
- Children at this age usually adapt quickly to braces and appointments.
During this phase, an orthodontist in London can address:
- Crowding and crooked teeth.
- Deep overbites or increased overjets (“sticky-out” teeth).
- Crossbites (where upper and lower teeth don’t meet correctly).
- Gaps and spacing.
- General alignment for function and appearance.
This doesn’t mean you must start braces in this window. Plenty of people miss it and still get fantastic results later. But if you’re asking about the best age to start braces from a purely orthodontic point of view, the early teen years are a sweet spot for many cases.
Early Braces for Children: When Is It Worth Starting Sooner?
Children as young as 8 or 9 may also start orthodontic treatment. This is usually called interceptive or early phase treatment. It might involve:
- Partial braces.
- Expanders.
- Simple removable appliances.
- Space maintainers.
The goal isn’t to create a “perfect smile”, but it’s to:
- Guide jaw growth.
- Stop a problem from getting worse.
- Make future treatment simpler, shorter or more stable.
Early treatment might be recommended if your child has:
- A crossbite causes the jaw to shift to one side.
- Severe crowding with no space for adult teeth to come through.
- Protruding front teeth are at high risk of trauma.
- Habits like thumb sucking that are affecting the bite.
- Very early or very late loss of baby teeth.
The important thing to remember is that early braces don’t replace full teen treatment; they’re more like smart groundwork. Whether you go down that route depends entirely on what your orthodontist sees in your child’s mouth
Signs Your Child Should See an Orthodontist in London
Not every child needs braces. But certain signs are worth checking, even if your child is still in primary school. Watch for:
- Crowded or overlapping front teeth.
- Teeth that don’t meet well when biting together.
- A jaw that looks noticeably off-centre.
- Upper teeth that bite completely in front of or behind lower teeth.
- Regular mouth breathing.
- Difficulty chewing or biting food.
- Thumb or finger sucking beyond age 6–7.
It’s a good idea to ask your dentist for a referral to an orthodontist or book a private consultation if you notice these changes
What About Teenagers Who Haven’t Started Yet?
If your child is already in their mid-teens and hasn’t had braces, it’s very common to wonder if you’ve “missed the boat”. In most cases, you haven’t. Yes, some ideal growth windows may have passed for certain jaw corrections, but teens and young adults can still get excellent results. In many London practices, it’s completely normal to see:
- 15–17-year-olds starting fixed braces or clear aligners.
- Sixth form and university students beginning treatment they missed earlier.
- Young adults are choosing cosmetic orthodontic options when they’re ready to invest in themselves.
From a biological perspective, as long as the teeth and gums are healthy and there’s enough bone support, braces can still move teeth effectively.
Are Adult Braces Worth It – Or Is It Too Late?
Here’s the reassuring reality: from an orthodontic point of view, there’s no upper age limit to straightening teeth. Adults in London choose braces or aligners for all sorts of reasons:
- They never had the chance as a child.
- They had braces years ago, but their teeth relapsed.
- They’re changing careers and want more confidence.
- They want to improve their bite and prevent future wear.
The main differences for adult braces are:
- Treatment can sometimes take a little longer.
- Certain jaw changes may not be possible without surgery.
- Adults may have restorations (crowns, implants, bridges) to work around.
- Gum health must be closely monitored.
The good news is that modern orthodontics gives adults a lot of discreet options:
- Tooth-coloured fixed braces.
- Braces fitted to the inside (lingual braces) in some cases.
- Clear aligners such as Invisalign.
So while the best age to start braces from a growth perspective is often the early teen years, the best age for your confidence and circumstances might be when you’re 28, 35 or 50. It genuinely is not too late if your mouth is healthy.
London-Specific Considerations: NHS vs Private Braces
In the UK, there’s another layer to the “best age” discussion: access to NHS-funded orthodontic treatment for children. NHS orthodontic treatment is available only for children under 18. It is based on specific scoring criteria. So, children with moderate to severe orthodontic problems can get NHS orthodontic treatment. But cosmetic or mild issues are less likely to qualify. However, waiting lists can be long in some parts of London.
This doesn’t change the biology of tooth movement, but it can influence timing. If you want to explore NHS options, it’s sensible to have your child assessed by an orthodontist well before their 16th birthday, so there’s time to plan. If your child doesn’t qualify for the NHS, or if you’re looking for more aesthetic options or shorter waiting times, private treatment with an orthodontist in London is still possible at any age.
Final Thoughts: It’s About the Right Time, Not a Perfect Age
It’s easy to get hung up on numbers: “Should we have started at 11 instead of 13?” “Am I too old at 35?” “Did we miss the window at 8?”
From the perspective of orthodontists in London, what matters most is not whether you hit a textbook-perfect age, but whether you:
- Get an assessment at the right stage.
- Treat problems before they become harder to fix.
- Choose an orthodontist who explains your options clearly.
For many children, early teens are indeed the ideal time to start full braces. For adults, the best time is usually when you’re ready to commit to treatment and good oral care. If you’re unsure, a simple consultation can give you more clarity in 30 minutes than months of guessing and Googling.