Why Your Child Should Get Braces

Braces are an essential part of dental health care, especially if one’s teeth tend to hinder daily living activities like eating properly. Some children might be experiencing pain due to jaw problems. One’s cosmetic appearance is also one of the most commonly cited reasons teenagers get braces. The list of reasons why your child should get braces goes on and on.

Source

According to the American Association of Orthodontists, most children, starting from the age of 7, are advised to get an orthodontic consultation. This will help in determining whether your child urgently needs braces, or whether it’s advisable to wait.

The Most Common Dental Problems in Children

OVERCROWDING

Source

The most common malocclusion that occurs in children is OVERCROWDING. It affects as much as 90% of children in the general population. Overcrowding is a hindrance due to the difficulty it presents during teeth cleaning like brushing and flossing. If teeth are not cleaned properly, this will allow for plaque to accumulate. Plaque causes cavities. Cavities will definitely mean another trip to the dentist.

Mild crowding does not necessitate any form of orthodontic intervention. It only means that you must take better care of your teeth. Overcrowding can be a self-limiting condition. This means that it might solve itself on its own as your child and their jaw grows to its full size. If this does not happen and overcrowding is still a problem, it is perfectly acceptable to wait until their late teens or early 20’s before beginning treatment. The only downside to this is that most teenagers and twenty-something adults prefer not to wear braces because they seem more appropriate for the younger set. Don’t worry, though. Hidden Braces and invisible braces like Invisalign are now available on the market for these kinds of situations.

OVERBITES AND UNDERBITES

Source

Source

Another malocclusion that is fairly common is the overbite or underbite. This happens when the front teeth don’t completely come together while biting down. This problem is also self-limiting for some children and can be fixed as late their late teenage years or early twenties. The general concession when it comes to overbites is the involvement of jaw realignment. It may be a source of discomfort for children, especially if they are prescribed to wear external devices, or as they like to call it, “headgear.”

Some overbites do not require jaw realignment; however, it still requires a significant amount of oral intervention. Realigning a whole set of front teeth requires time and sacrifice on the child’s part. In this case, Hidden Braces can be an option. It might be easier for a child to endure the long process if their braces are acceptable.

One cause of teeth malocclusions in children is thumb-sucking. This can also cause an excessive overbite. Dentists and orthodontists recommend that thumb-sucking must be integrated or overgrown by the age of 7. After the child reaches the age of 7, permanent damage to the teeth will occur.

Waiting Is An Option

Owing to the expensive costs of braces, some of you might be thinking twice about getting braces for your child. However, it’s a perfectly sensible investment if there is an urgent need for braces. Jaw and teeth problems can hinder a child’s performance in school. It is especially important if it is affecting your child’s eating habits.

Still, if the problem is not urgent, like mild overcrowding or a slight overbite, then your child’s orthodontic treatment can wait. However, if the problem is related to jaw alignment like over bite or under bite, early treatment is recommended. It is much easier to treat a child at a younger age as his/her jaw bone is softer and more “moldable”. Usually it means a shorter treatment time and a more comfortable orthodontic experience

How to Persuade Your Child That Braces Are a Good Thing

Some kids will not want to get braces, especially if they think it’s uncool or that the other children may make fun of them. Those that require external devices are especially apprehensive of getting braces because of the treatment’s overtly obvious presentation.

If you want to help your child come to terms with getting braces, here are some ideas:

Source

Sit them down and explain to them why they need to get braces. Detail for them the possibilities and the downsides of not getting braces so that they will be more concerned about their teeth rather than their appearance.

If your child still won’t agree, visit with your local orthodontist and ask them to help you explain to your child all about braces and why they are good for your child’s teeth and overall health.

Show your child that there are other options when getting braces like Hidden Braces and Invisalign.

Consult your orthodontist and see if they have the option of customized braces that have colors and designs that are suitable for children. Show pictures to your child and see if they would like braces like those.

Getting braces is a huge step for every child. It’s something new and foreign, but it can still prove to be very beneficial in the long run. Orthoworks aims to provide your child with the necessary services that will make getting their first set of braces a smooth and efficient process. Contact us for a consultation so that we can provide you and your child with quality dental health care and services. Contact us at (650) 589-4563 or visit us at any of our branches on this page.