A lot of youngsters including teenagers and even toddlers wear braces. A significant number of these young brace wearers are friends and peers of your child. Maybe this isa high time for your child too should switch to braces. But who will decide that whether or not your little one should start wearing braces for orthodontic correction of teeth misalignment or malocclusion. Of course the most appropriate person to resolve that query is a qualified and experienced dentist. According to both dentists and orthodontists in the UK the suitable time for any child to start any orthodontic treatment is around the time when the permanent teeth start coming through and this is usually around the age 7. Even issues like malocclusion and overcrowding start becoming apparent around that time.
But the best age for children to get on braces is between the age group of 10 and 15. During this phase the mouth is still growing as well as the head whereas teeth too are conducive to straightening that is done by orthodontic braces. Some kids consider braces as a sign that their teen years have approached and they are not children any more. So it is obvious these children actually cannot wait to get their orthodontic braces. On the other hand some youngsters stay worried how they are going to look like wearing braces. It is not difficult for dental professionals and parents to get the youngsters out of this worried state. According to a busy orthodontist in Battersea one of the best ways of doing it is through talking or discussion.
Few reasons why children need orthodontic corrections and braces
- Your child may have lost his or her milk teeth little earlier or later
- The teeth in the jaw may show a pattern of being crowded
- The new teeth that come through the gum may seem to be in inappropriate position
- The teeth at the back that are crucial for chewing may fail to make the proper contact with each other
- Your child may not be able to chew food properly
- Dome children are found to be unable to bite on hard food items
- Several times your little one has accidentally bitten his or her cheek from inside
- When a child sucks on the thumb or uses a pacifier above 6 years of age
The first orthodontic consultation of your child
During the first orthodontic consultation of a child an expert makes careful observations of the mouth covering various aspects. Few crucial aspects that cannot be ignored under any circumstance during the very first consultation include the following – the alignment of the jaw, the arrangement and the shape of the teeth, etc. Other than the minute observation the dentist may also ask few questions like whether the child has any precise problem in talking or eating. There could even be a clinching sound of the bone when the little one speaks or eats and the expert may also like to learn about that in details invisalign for teens.
In the opinion of one of the busiest dentists in Battersea who deals in braces the earlier orthodontic treatment is invoked the better results can be expected. Apart from that there also exists another point of certainty – the later you start the treatment there will not be any lesser expense incurred. There is actually no point in waiting unnecessarily for years before starting the necessary treatment to correct an orthodontic flaw. Orthodontic treatments are not something that is affordable very easily; even your child’s braces too will not come dearth cheap. But there are ways to keep the cost down so that both your child and you can keep smiling easily.
The type of braces you select for your little one can keep the treatment cost confined to reasonable figures. More importantly almost every patient-centric dental practice across the UK these days readily offers easy finance options to make costly treatments more easily available without burning a hole in your pocket. Orthodontics for children is no exception invisalign for teens.
Kids’ removable braces
As far as removable braces for children are concerned there exist three set options, namely –
- Clear removable braces like Invisalign aligner trays (Children usually prefer this more over others to straighten their teeth)
- Lingual type braces that come with brackets and these brackets are attached behind the teeth to keep them out of view
- Removable braces for interceptive treatment as a skilled and experienced orthodontist in Battersea prefers calling it
Removable braces for interceptive treatment are made from a plastic plate which covers the roof of the mouth whereas metal wires are clipped on to the teeth in the front. This range of appliances allows only limited movement of the teeth and is widely used in children within the age group of 7 to 11. Usually these braces are given to children as the first stage of treatment before they are given fixed braces invisalign for teens.
Children in general prefer those clear invisible braces over their fixed counterparts and there are lots of reasons behind this preference. One of the most interesting factors is removable braces allow them to take little breaks from wearing the aligners – like when they are having their meals or snacking, brushing or flossing the teeth and so on. However with removable braces every child must be little more careful and responsible because this range of appliances gets easily lost every now and then as you wear off from the teeth. it is also important to keep the aligner trays clean all the time. These clear plastic aligners are literally tailor made for the teeth of each teen user. A set of these removable aligner trays is worn for a couple of weeks and then one shifts on to the next set of aligners in a given series. Each set of the aligners shifts the teeth a little toward their ideal position surely and steadily.
Fixed braces for children
This range of orthodontic appliances includes strong brackets made from durable metal which are fixed to the teeth and connected with wire. The latest versions of these brackets are obviously more subtle, discreet and comfortable than the earlier versions. Dentists working at the renowned Chatfield Dental Braces, Invisalign in London point out that braces made of ceramic or plastic are also much in use when children or invisalign for teens London teen orthodontics is concerned.