Braces for Kids: Why Early Treatment is Beneficial
For many children pre-teenage braces are often associated with the discomfort that comes with having a “metal mouth”. Braces are central to helping develop properly aligned jaws and healthy teeth.
Most children show early signs of having at least some aspects of the following problems: overcrowded teeth, a bite defect, and mal-alignement of teeth. Whatever the issue is, orthodontic treatment can treat all of those issues at a relatively young age before they aggravate with growing older. Braces for baby teeth (จัดฟันน้ำนม, term in Thai), dental treatment done at the right time has many benefits such as saving money, reducing the pain, and future dental complications.
When Should Children Get Braces?
An orthodontic assessment typically begins as early as age of 7. Children are expected to possess a combination of permanent and baby teeth and this phenomenon gives them an opportunity to showcase jaw growth or teeth alignment issues which an Orthodontist is able to identify. While not every child will fall under the bracket of required braces at this age, timely evaluation always helps set a boundary to the time required for treatment so that the start time can be determined.
Typical Reasons Kids Require Braces
Braces are applied to correct the following orthodontic issues:
- Misaligned or packed teeth
- Spaces between teeth
- Overbites, underbites, and crossbites
- Improper jaw alignment
- Thumb sucking related problems
Such problems may influence one’s speech, eating, and general maintenance of oral hygiene. If ignored, these issues may result in more advanced concerns like toothaches, gum issues, and jaw discomfort.
The Procedure with Regular Appointments
After diagnosing the child’s orthodontic concern, the next step is acquiring the imaging and molds of the mouth. After that, the braces will be attached, and routine adjustments will be made every few weeks to the desired position. The span for this generally ranges from a year and a half to three years.
At this stage, routine appointments with the orthodontist are essential for cavities and checking progress. Children will also need to maintain superb self-care, because braces can contain food particles and elevate the risk of cavities.
The various types of braces available, children seem to favor metal braces the most because of how easy they are to use and customize with colorful bands. They are also the most affordable and durable. Other types of braces for children (จัดฟันเด็ก, this is the term in the Thai) include sapphire braces, which although fragile, are less visible, and lingual braces which go on the back side of the teeth.
Advantages of Early Orthodontic Treatment
Starting orthodontic treatment early can greatly motivate children and is beneficial for their oral health. With aligned teeth, children have a much lower chance of developing cavities, gum diseases, and other oral related issues since they can easily clean their teeth. Resolving jaw and alignment issues still translates to avoiding speech problems, chewing issues, even headaches from jaw tension.
And, of course, confidence. Having perfectly aligned teeth works wonders for boosting children’s confidence which translates to good social interactions when they’re still very young.
Wrapping Up
Getting braces for children is a preventive approach to maintaining oral health in the future. Tackling oral concerns at a young age gives parents the opportunity to make sure their children have healthy smiles. If you feel like your child should undergo orthodontic treatment, make sure to seek professional help from a pediatric dentist or orthodontist.
