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What is Orthodontics? Up to What Age Can It Be Applied?

Human beings have attached importance to protecting oral and dental health in every period in order to achieve aesthetic appearance, functional balance, and phonetic (speech) harmony. Today, one of the primary goals of dentistry is to offer reliable and long-lasting treatment options that meet both aesthetic and functional expectations of patients. In line with this goal, orthodontics is an important specialty field aiming to bring teeth, jaws, and facial structure to an ideal position.

Orthodontics provides a multi-faceted treatment approach not only for proper alignment of teeth, but also for correctly positioning jaw relationships, improving chewing function, and supporting facial aesthetics. Orthodontic treatment can be performed with fixed or removable appliances or other modern methods.

At What Ages Can Orthodontic Treatment Be Applied?

The age range for orthodontic treatment is quite broad. Childhood and adolescence, when dental and jaw development is active, are advantageous for treatment; however, orthodontics is not a treatment applied only to children.

In children, development in jaw and tooth structure is closely monitored starting from around 6-7 years of age. Early diagnosis prevents future problems and allows for easier and faster treatment opportunities.

During adolescence, with the completion of permanent teeth, dental alignment and jaw relationships can be evaluated in detail. This period is one of the most ideal times for orthodontics.

In adults, even if bone development is completed, orthodontic treatment can be applied at any age in the presence of healthy teeth and gums. Today, thanks to aesthetic brackets, adult patients can comfortably continue the treatment process without sacrificing their social lives.

Assistant Professor Melis Büşra AŞKIN

Yozgat Bozok University

Faculty of Dentistry

Head of the Department of Orthodontics