When does a child need braces?
Nov 01, 2009
BRACES are almost a rite of passage for children today. It seems like most of them in their early teens must wear braces. The price can be quite high, causing many parents to look for affordable dental braces options. If your chils needs braces, you need
BRACES are almost a rite of passage for children today. It seems like most of them in their early teens must wear braces. The price can be quite high, causing many parents to look for affordable dental braces options. If your chils needs braces, you need to know a little more about braces care and the cost.
How to take care of braces
Once your child has braces, you will need to make sure that proper braces care is followed. The person who is wearing the braces will be given a dental braces kit from the dentist. This will contain items like rubber bands and wax that are used as part of dental braces care.
Keep track of this kit, as the items it contains will come in handy while you are wearing your braces.
Those wearing braces need to brush thoroughly. Also, they need to brush after they eat, without exception. Even if they just have a small snack, they need to brush their teeth.
Food can easily get stuck in the brackets of the braces and this can lead to bacteria build-up and potential gum disease.
If you are the one wearing braces, do not forget to floss while you have them. You will need to string the dental floss between the wires in your mouth.
Flossing is as important as brushing, because food can get trapped between the teeth while you are wearing braces.
If you find that your brackets are hurting your mouth, use the wax that came in your kit to cushion them.
Roll a small ball of wax and push it on the bracket that is irritating your mouth. This should ease some of the pain as your mouth builds up a resistance to the wear that comes with braces.
You need to avoid eating extremely hard foods while you wear braces because the wires can break and this can be expensive to repair. Talk to your dentist about the foods you should avoid.
At what age should I schedule an
appointment for an orthodontic screening?
The American Association of Orthodontists recommends an orthodontic screening at age seven. By this age, several permanent teeth in most children have erupted, allowing an orthodontist to evaluate one’s condition.
How long does it take to complete treatment?
Treatment time obviously depends on each patient’s specific orthodontic problem. It ranges from 12 to 30 months. The average time frame a person is in braces is approximately 22 months. Appointments are scheduled according to each patient’s needs.
Can a child participate in sports?
A mouth guard is recommended for all sports. Regular checkups with the dentist are important while in braces. A dentist determines the intervals between cleaning appointments.
Can orthodontic correction occur while a child has baby teeth?
Some orthodontic problems are significant enough to require early intervention. However, if a patient is not yet ready for treatment, that patient’s growth and development is followed until the time is right for treatment to begin.
Phase One treatment, if necessary, is usually initiated on children between the ages of seven and 10. Phase One treatment lasts about 12 to 21 months. The primary objective is to address significant problems to prevent them from becoming more severe and to improve self-esteem and self-image.
Your child will need full braces even after Phase One treatment. The period following Phase One treatment is called the “resting period†during which growth and tooth eruption are closely monitored.
Throughout this period, parents and patients will be kept informed of future treatment recommendations.
Until what age is treatment effective?
As long as the teeth are healthy and there is adequate bone structure, there is no age limit for orthodontic treatment. Even at the age of 60, treatment can be effective.
Online sources
How to take care of braces
Once your child has braces, you will need to make sure that proper braces care is followed. The person who is wearing the braces will be given a dental braces kit from the dentist. This will contain items like rubber bands and wax that are used as part of dental braces care.
Keep track of this kit, as the items it contains will come in handy while you are wearing your braces.
Those wearing braces need to brush thoroughly. Also, they need to brush after they eat, without exception. Even if they just have a small snack, they need to brush their teeth.
Food can easily get stuck in the brackets of the braces and this can lead to bacteria build-up and potential gum disease.
If you are the one wearing braces, do not forget to floss while you have them. You will need to string the dental floss between the wires in your mouth.
Flossing is as important as brushing, because food can get trapped between the teeth while you are wearing braces.
If you find that your brackets are hurting your mouth, use the wax that came in your kit to cushion them.
Roll a small ball of wax and push it on the bracket that is irritating your mouth. This should ease some of the pain as your mouth builds up a resistance to the wear that comes with braces.
You need to avoid eating extremely hard foods while you wear braces because the wires can break and this can be expensive to repair. Talk to your dentist about the foods you should avoid.
At what age should I schedule an
appointment for an orthodontic screening?
The American Association of Orthodontists recommends an orthodontic screening at age seven. By this age, several permanent teeth in most children have erupted, allowing an orthodontist to evaluate one’s condition.
How long does it take to complete treatment?
Treatment time obviously depends on each patient’s specific orthodontic problem. It ranges from 12 to 30 months. The average time frame a person is in braces is approximately 22 months. Appointments are scheduled according to each patient’s needs.
Can a child participate in sports?
A mouth guard is recommended for all sports. Regular checkups with the dentist are important while in braces. A dentist determines the intervals between cleaning appointments.
Can orthodontic correction occur while a child has baby teeth?
Some orthodontic problems are significant enough to require early intervention. However, if a patient is not yet ready for treatment, that patient’s growth and development is followed until the time is right for treatment to begin.
Phase One treatment, if necessary, is usually initiated on children between the ages of seven and 10. Phase One treatment lasts about 12 to 21 months. The primary objective is to address significant problems to prevent them from becoming more severe and to improve self-esteem and self-image.
Your child will need full braces even after Phase One treatment. The period following Phase One treatment is called the “resting period†during which growth and tooth eruption are closely monitored.
Throughout this period, parents and patients will be kept informed of future treatment recommendations.
Until what age is treatment effective?
As long as the teeth are healthy and there is adequate bone structure, there is no age limit for orthodontic treatment. Even at the age of 60, treatment can be effective.
Online sources