Orthodontists have a number of preventive and responsive treatments available to comfortably suit your children’s needs
There is some good news for parents who are looking into teeth straightening options for their children. Orthodontists have more options at their disposal when it comes to correcting jaw and teeth issues.
This means that giving your child the perfect smile can happen faster, easier and more comfortably than ever before. Once you’ve made the decision to partner with an orthodontist to explore these options, it’s important to learn as much as you can about each treatment available.
Earlier is always better
Like any medical condition that may require treatment, deep bites, crowding and other problems of the jaw and mouth are best managed in a preventive fashion.
By evaluating your children’s teeth and jaw on – ideally at age 7 as recommended by the American Dental Association – an orthodontist can responsibly predict facial development. This, in turn, assists in determining what type of teeth straightening options should be considered. By proactively seeking treatment at this early age, you’ll have more options on the table and will be in the best position to pursue the most cost-effective treatment path.
One preventive option available to an orthodontist is what’s called Pre-Eruption Guidance (PEG), which may eliminate the need for further orthodontic treatment, such as braces or tooth pulling. This treatment involves using tiny, removable parts to guide adult teeth as they come in, or “erupt,” so that they produce a straight and stable alignment.
The case for braces
If you look at the studies, anywhere between half and 70 percent of U.S. kids will don braces sometime before the age of 18. And while these numbers have advanced through the year, so have the options and the technology available to your children
The big, metal “railroad track” smiles have been replaced by more cleverly hidden and effective orthodontic solutions, including braces made from porcelain or plastic, and braces that are placed discretely behind teeth (called “lingual braces”). Another option that’s virtually invisible is clear aligners, a removable option that comes without the restrictions of traditional metal braces.
Braces are usually worn by children for a duration of anywhere between six months and two years. While your kids will be responsible for some level of upkeep and maintenance, the braces won’t keep them from doing what they love: playing sports, musical instruments, etc.
Braces are never the goal, and can be avoided through more preventive teeth straightening options, but they’re a proven solution for giving your kids the smile they deserve.
Other tools of the trade
Two of the more orthodontic popular appliances are retainers and headgear.
An orthodontic headgear is employed for more severe bite problems. This device is used in tandem with braces so that more force may be applied to correct the issue. A headgear often only needs to be worn at home or during sleep. Other tools that are applied to braces in order to add a bit more force are elastics, or rubber bands.
Retainers are custom-fit devices that are used to maintain the realignment of teeth after braces, surgery or other treatment. They’re often removable but are sometimes fixed.
There are a number of factors that will impact which teeth straightening options are best for your children, from the age they first see the orthodontist to how well your chosen professional keeps up with the latest tools and technology. The first decision you make is the most important of all: selecting an orthodontist that you and your children trust to give you the best possible treatment.
Where do you look first when trying to find an orthodontist?
