08/02/2026
When I was in primary school, I had four adult teeth removed and a single wire brace that expanded my palate and moved my front teeth back. I was probably around 10 years old at the time.
Nowadays, thinking has shifted. With earlier intervention, orthodontic treatment can sometimes reduce the need to remove adult teeth later on.
I recently spoke to .daniel.orthodontist at about and why some parents might consider braces earlier - he explained some of the key reasons👇
• Preventing dental trauma – children are around 3x more likely to experience dental trauma if they have an increased overjet (when the top teeth stick out), as the lips don’t protect the teeth as well. 🛴
• Expansion – in younger children, the palate is still in two halves, meaning it can be gently expanded to change its shape and create space for adult teeth to come through, reducing the likelihood of extractions later on. 🪥
• Growth modification – while children are still growing, orthodontics can help guide jaw growth, potentially reducing the chance of needing jaw surgery later in life. 👨⚕️
• Underbites (this isn’t present in our situation) – treatments like protraction face-masks work best between 8–10 years and can reduce the chance of needing jaw surgery later by around 3x 👏🏻
• Bullying – both patient reports and research show that children with noticeable malocclusion (such as a large overjet or overbite) are more likely to experience teasing or bullying. 🙁
So here’s to prevention rather than cure… and bringing on braces next month, I’ll report back! 🦷✨
Has your child had a brace? Any tips for us? 🤔
Any questions comment below and I’ll help or try get the answer for you! Nic xx
