Once your child reaches the teen years, they should have all of their permanent teeth except for the four wisdom teeth which appear later. A good appearance is especially important to pre-teens and teens, so it can be easy to motivate them to practice good oral care habits to insure a healthy and beautiful smile.

Some pre-teens and teenagers may wear braces on their teeth. Orthodontics is the area of dentistry that involves the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of teeth that are twisted, overlapping or do not fit together properly.

When will my child have all of his permanent teeth?
Your child will begin to replace his baby teeth with permanenet teeth from around age six until age 12 or 13. At this time he or she will have a complete set of 32 permanenet teeth. This wisdom teeth are the last to appear at around age 16.

Should my child be receiving additional fluoride?
Unless your child continues to have problems with cavities, he or she will not require continued use of fluoride supplements after his or her permanent teeth completely appear as the teeth should be well protected from decay.

My child's teeth are crooked and overlap. At what age should he begin wearing braces?
Orthodontic treatment (braces) usually begins around age 10 although braces can be worn at any age.

Made of metal or plastic, braces include brackets attached to the teeth and wires that connect them. Pressure to move the teeth is caused by adjusting the wires regularly.

The length of time a person wears braces depends on age, the severity of the problem and the condition of the mouth. However, the average child wears braces for 18-30 months. After the braces are removed, a removable retainer must be worn for several months to hold the teth in their proper position until they're more secure.

What is the proper way for children to brush and floss?
Your child should brush twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste and a soft bristle brush with a small head for those hard-to-reach back teeth. A thorough brushing helps remove plaque from the chewing surfaces of his/her teeth.

Every child should floss once a day to remove plaque from between teeth and under the gumline where a toothbrush cannot reach.