Braces for Children
What are Braces for Children?
Children, pre-teens and teenagers can benefit from braces if they have crooked, crowded or misaligned teeth. Braces can treat issues with the jaw and bite, including under and overbites as well as open bites. Certain lifestyle factors can cause your child to have problems with the alignment of their teeth. With early treatment, orthodontic work is less invasive and more effective.
Why are Braces for Children needed?
When your child’s teeth are crooked or crowded, it can make it nearly impossible for them to keep them clean. It’s difficult to floss between teeth that have barely any space around them, and this can cause eventual issues with gingivitis and gum disease. Likewise, children may feel badly about the way that their teeth look because of how crooked or crowded they are. Orthodontic treatment can take anywhere from one to three years or longer depending on severity of misalignment problems.
Who is a good candidate for Braces for Children?
It is recommended that your child first have an orthodontic evaluation at the age of seven. If you’re noticing that your child is experiencing issues with crooked teeth, misalignment or other orthodontic problems, you might consider bringing them in for a consultation sooner. Failure to begin orthodontic treatment can affect your child’s ability to speak, breathe easily, chew and bite into foods. It’s never too early or too late to begin the treatment that they need.
What happens during treatment of Braces for Children?
We begin the process with a thorough consultation to get to know your child and their unique needs. We will take impressions of their mouth as well as x-rays to determine if and when they may need to begin treatment. Treatment is best done at regular intervals, and it is important that your child come in for their scheduled appointments so that treatment isn’t delayed or prolonged. Your child will have braces applied to their teeth and will more than likely benefit from other orthodontic appliances that all work together to straighten and align their smile.
If you think your child needs braces and you want to bring them in for a consultation, call our office today and we can further assist you.
