Braces For Children
Does your child have dental alignment issues such as an overbite or gaps that you feel may require orthodontic treatment in the future?
If so, it can be a daunting task as a parent knowing when is the right time to start orthodontic treatment such as braces. You may find yourself thinking, “what if they are too young?”, “what if they still have some of their baby teeth?”. These are common thoughts and concerns that many parents experience.
At Gentle Touch, we are experts in both braces for children and teenagers, as well as what we call “Mini-Braces”, early treatment for young children typically aged between 7-10.
How To Identify If My Child Needs Braces
As a parent, it can sometimes be difficult to visibly determine whether young children under 10 years old will need braces, so an orthodontic consultation will be best. In the consultation, your orthodontist will likely examine your Child’s first permanent molars at the back of the mouth, as well as the incisors to determine whether problems like crowding, deep bites or cross-bites will occur in the coming years.
As your child ages into their early pre-teens and teenage years, visually identifying the need for braces becomes a little easier. With typical orthodontic issues such as crowding, over and under bites being more pronounced, you can see the image below for a visual representation of these conditions.
If you notice your child is presenting with a smile similar to any of those in the image above, please don’t hesitate to book a consultation with Dr Balya at Gentle Touch Orthodontics. She can provide you with more information about how to achieve a perfect smile.
How Long Will My Child Need Braces For?
The length of time your child may need to wear braces will vary depending on the severity of orthodontic problems they may have. Children with minor dental issues may only need to wear braces for as little as 6 months to achieve a perfect smile. However, children with more complex issues may require braces for up to 2 years to ensure their teeth are correctly aligned.
What Are The Benefits Of Braces For Children?
Braces have many benefits for children, both from a cosmetic and general health point of view.
While the benefits of braces in general are many, the benefit of braces in children and in particular young children is far more pronounced.
Early orthodontic treatment with braces is so beneficial because, during our younger years, children’s jawbones are still somewhat soft and pliable, allowing growth modification. This means that corrective treatments can generate positive results faster than in our adult years, and they can prevent any existing issues from developing further, laying a solid dental foundation for the rest of their lives.
In addition to this, some more benefits of braces for children include:
- Improved oral health
- Corrects disproportionate teeth and alignment issues
- Corrects common jaw issues such as overbite or under bite
- Preventative measure for future tooth or gum disease
- Improved self-confidence
Does My Child Need Braces?
Going through the process of starting braces treatment for your children does not need to be a daunting task. Braces treatment is very common, in fact, it’s estimated that more than 1 in 2 children would benefit from some form of orthodontic treatment like braces. Whether it be to fix function problems, like a misaligned bite, or to simply straighten their teeth. At our consultation, we will give you an accurate guideline on when is best to start treatment for your child.
Gentle Touch Orthodontics has proudly serviced the wider Adelaide community since 1971. And over that time, our expert team now led by Dr Balya Sriram has provided thousands of locals with a perfect smile.
If you are interested in speaking with Dr Balya today about braces or other orthodontic treatment for your children, you can do so by scheduling a consultation with Dr Balya. Or calling our clinic direct on 8333 0066.
