Question about young children in America with fixed braces whilst our kids wait till their teens

[EvangelicalAboutButteredToast]

I’m intrigued. How come I see so many young celeb kids with fixed braces in photos and yet children in the UK don’t get braces until their teens - even if it’s privately. How come there’s such a difference in practise between the countries?

May be because they are happy to pay twice in the US. Seems pointless to put braces on a child until they have all their adult teeth.

They have braces behind their bottom teeth I understand as well to make sure they don’t cross.

My son has braces at 9.

nhs.

My son had braces at 9 nhs

DD had her NHS braces fitted at 11.

I don’t live in the UK and both DC had expanders before 10 to avoid any teeth pulling - my DD2 now just has a retainer, DD1 had train tracks for a brief time now also retainer

The intention is that any further interventions will be pretty minimal - potentially a short series of Invisalign in their teens

I grew up in the UK, had various teeth removals plus train tracks (NHS) and due to no fixed wires had to re-do a bunch as an adult privately

Much prefer what my DC have experienced

Our dentist said 12 is about the youngest she recommends to start (depending when all adult teeth come through) because face shape changes a lot until then and you might need the braces longer if you start too early or it might not be as effective. Don’t know if that’s true or not but all DC having NHS braces in our area seem to have them fitted around age 13

My kids teeth are coming through straight at the moment but I’m mindful that the bottom ones might start to cross once the molars come in and I’m pondering if I should be doing anything. They are 13 and 8 and so far their NHS dentists have said nothing.