Braces for Children

Though an orthodontist can enhance a smile at any age, there generally is an optimal time period to have treatment, so that the teeth are fully corrected at the earliest opportunity. This often ensures the minimum time in treatment for your child and less expense for you, it also means less time hiding behind their teeth and getting out and being proud of their smile and enjoying life.

Although the American Association of Orthodontics recommends that the initial orthodontic consultation should occur as the permanent teeth erupt at age 7, most children do not need treatment at this age but for those that can benefit from early treatment, it can greatly maximise what can be achieved, so that the treatment is more effective and that there is minimal disturbance to normal growth and development .

As we have earlier mentioned, many orthodontic problems are easier to correct as the pubertal growth spurt is occurring before the teenage years . Early treatment may mean that a patient can avoid extraction of permanent teeth,serious complications and even jaw surgery at a later age.

Some signs that parents can look out for in their children that may necessitate early intervention with braces:

1. Very early or very late loss of baby teeth
2. Missing or extra teeth
3. A baby tooth which does not fall out despite the fact that its permanent successor tooth has also come through the gum and both are so close together that it is difficult to clean them and plaque begins to build up.
4. Upper front teeth ‘bucked’ or protruding excessively over the lower teeth
5. A very deep bite, which means that the lower teeth disappear inside the upper teeth on closing.
6. Crossbite: where one or more lower teeth bite outside the upper teeth
7. Very overcrowded  teeth or overlapping teeth
8. Very wide gap at the front of the mouth
9. Difficulty in closing teeth together such as:–the upper and lower teeth are rubbing against each other in an edge to edge position when your child closes together.-the upper and lower teeth at the front do not touch when your child bites together e.g. from a thumb sucking habit.
10. An asymmetry in the face or mouth so that, the centre point of the upper and lower teeth do not line up or the lower jaw shifts to either the left or the right when biting together i.e. there is more than one position where the bite feels normal.
11. Teeth wearing unevenly and the biting surfaces of the front teeth are no longer straight

American Association of Orthodontists Recommendation For Orthodontic Check-Ups No Later than Age 7

American Association of Orthodontists; The Right Time for an Orthodontic Check-Up: Signs to Look for in Growing Children

Interceptive treatment  sets out to:

• Early treatment can sometimes negate the need to have extraction of your permanent teeth later i.e. during the teenage years. This can be achieved by intervention at a time whilst the jaws are still growing.
• Tipping the protruding teeth back so that they are less susceptible to being chipped
• Creating facial symmetry and balance by influencing the jaw growth
• Make the crowded teeth easier to properly brush and floss i.e. avoiding decay and gum problems
• Following the necessary loss of a baby tooth, with your family dentist we can preserve the space for the permanent tooth that has not yet erupted.
• Reduce the likelihood of impacted canines ( the pointed teeth third from the front, sometimes called ‘fangs’).

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