Parents ask a lot of questions about braces for their child, like “what age can a child get braces?, What is the cost of braces for a child?, Does insurance cover braces for a child?”.
Typically, orthodontic treatments are done for children at the age of 8 to 14, or when they have lost all their baby teeth and have grown most of their permanent teeth. Treatment at this age will correct misaligned tooth earlier and manage teeth alignment while your child grows and get the best result. However, some orthodontists would prefer doing an interceptive method, at an early age.
The first phase involves using a dental appliance (not necessarily braces) while the child has baby teeth. The second phase starts when all the permanent teeth are complete, the treatment will be by traditional braces but for a shorter period of time. Those who use this method say the treatment makes correction easier. However, the best treatment for your child would mainly depend on the severity of your child’s teeth alignment problem.
For the first visit, a thorough examination will be done for your child, then the orthodontist will check on the child’s bite, and ask questions for further assessment like chewing problems and clicking or pain on the jaw when chewing.
An X-ray will be taken to see if there are any upcoming permanent teeth and the position of the teeth. Then an impression of the child’s teeth will be taken and make a model of the child’s teeth. After the consultation, a treatment plan will be made by the orthodontist and an appointment will be made for the next visit.
What are the advantages of early orthodontic treatments for children?
- Healthy and clean teeth
Plaque and bacteria accumulate in spaces in between teeth, this is caused by crooked and tooth overcrowding which always leads to tooth decay and gum disease. Aligning the child’s teeth at an early age makes cleaning easier and helps avoid oral health problems in the future.
2.Avoid premature tooth loss
When a child’s tooth falls off, the adjacent teeth can shift just like in adult teeth, this may interrupt the growth of the permanent teeth that may grow in a different position. By using orthodontic appliances, it holds the other teeth in position to make way for the permanent tooth to erupt in the correct position.
3.Correct bite problems
Bite problems are easier to correct during childhood, when a child’s teeth are not aligned correctly, this causes a bad bite and will interrupt tooth growth. In severe cases this causes the child to have jaw and facial pain. Orthodontic treatments can help give the child’s teeth to develop correctly.
4. Prevent trauma
It is always true that any health and oral problems that are not treated early can cause severe problems and may cause trauma to your child. Crooked teeth make it more prone to tooth damage. Correcting the teeth alignment early can prevent serious damage.
5.Save time and money
Correcting teeth alignment early results in better oral health for your child and can save time, the more complicated the oral health condition is the more time and money is needed to correct the problem.
6.Correct speaking problems
A crooked tooth can cause speech problems, this should be corrected in the early stages to give your child confidence and a brighter smile. It may seem extreme to get your child early orthodontic treatment, but it plays an important part in a child’s growth.
If your child needs orthodontic treatment, see a professional Orthodontist. Seeking early orthodontic consultation for your child will identify the oral health problems and correct the problem at a young age this will help your child get a bright smile and build self-confidence.
