Pediatric Orthodontics
When it is about improving the smile of your child, orthodontic care is mandatory. If you take early orthodontic measures or care, it can help you improve not just your child’s smile but oral health also. Besides this, straight teeth are much easier to floss and brush, and less prone to develop tooth decay and gum diseases.
Simply put, pediatric orthodontics is all about starting orthodontic care or treatment in early age of child’s life. It ensures that your child has a healthy smile that looks good as well as feels good for future years. Proper pediatric orthodontic treatment plays a vital role in improving child’s appearance that is important to boost self-esteem, particularly at young age.
In addition, it is important to know that jaws and bones grow at different rates. That is what makes receiving consultation and recommendation at young age extremely important. It helps you understand the orthodontic requirement of your child and gives you plenty of useful information. Using this information, orthodontists create an effective and long-term treatment plan for your child.
When You Need a Pediatric Orthodontist
Pediatric orthodontics can treat numerous problems associated with the jaws and teeth. Some of them include:
- Crossbites: When upper teeth do not align with the lower teeth when you bite
- Overbites: When upper teeth are far forward and protrude
- Underbites: When lower teeth are far forward or far back
- Open Bites: Space between the front or side teeth and biting surfaces
- Spacing Issues: Spaces and gaps between the upper or lower teeth because of missing teeth
- Misplaced Midlines: When front teeth do not align with the center of lower front teeth line
- Crowding Issues: When teeth overlap the dental ridge to take space
Types of Pediatric Orthodontics
Orthodontists perform visual analysis of teeth of children using X-ray to assess and determine the problem that needs correcting. If a child requires orthodontic treatment, several options are available to you:
Traditional Braces
Traditional braces are the first option that you can opt to correct the malpositioned teeth. The treatment involves gluing or fixing metal brackets to the misaligned teeth. The braces are typically archwires that run from molar teeth to upper teeth through metal brackets. Dentists use a small rubber band to hold the wires in place.
There is no specific treatment length of traditional braces. It varies and depends on the complexity and severity of child’s orthodontic issues. However, the braces treatment may take a longer time than other orthodontic treatments and may last from one to three years.
It is worth noting that during pediatric orthodontic treatment, a child needs to visit his/her orthodontist regularly. In general, a child needs to visit orthodontist at least twice a month, particularly during braces treatment to tighten the brackets. The rubber bands and wires need adjustment to create the tension and shift in teeth into a position. During this process, a child may experience some discomfort and soreness after adjustment of the braces.
Ceramic Braces
Like traditional braces, this type of braces can be one of the options of your child’s pediatric orthodontic treatment. The dentist will glue or fix the ceramic braces to the teeth. Made of composite and clear material, ceramic braces are less conspicuous as compared to traditional braces. They also have an archwire that connects the brackets and holds the rubber band in place.
If your child gets ceramic braces, he/she will have to visit the orthodontist regularly to have his/her braces adjusted. The dentist will adjust the position of the wires during the monthly appointment of your child. An orthodontist does that to correct the position of the brackets by creating more shift and tension.
Invisalign
The given pediatric orthodontic treatments may make child balk. In these situations, parents can consider Invisalign. The treatment is relatively less painful, unlike other pediatric orthodontic treatments. There are no metal or ceramic braces attached to teeth in this treatment that does not only provide more flexibility but also keep children relaxed and stress-free.
Invisalign is a string of removable and clear aligners. They are custom-made and gradually apply pressure to move and rotate a child’s teeth.
Moreover, if your child does not feel comfortable wearing aligners all the time, he/she may remove them for brushing, flossing, eating, and drinking.
What is the Right Time to Begin Pediatric Orthodontic Process?
What is the right age for starting pediatric orthodontic treatment?
It is undeniably one of the vital concerns of many parents. According to the American Association of Orthodontics, it is better to take children for pediatric orthodontic treatment before their permanent teeth start coming in.
The recommended age is “seven” for children. However, there is a wide disparity in teeth development in children. That is why it is important to consult an orthodontist to determine orthodontic requirements and treatment of children. It is also important to find out if the changes are a normal part of children’s developmental growth.
NYC Dental Orthodontics, in this regard, works with an efficient team of orthodontists and can help you choose the right type of pediatric orthodontic treatment for your child. They ensure to provide the best dental care services to children during their orthodontic treatment and help reduce the risk of protruding and malpositioned teeth in children.
Find out more about your child’s pediatric orthodontic treatment options by contacting us today:
20 E 46th St Rm 1301
New York, NY 10017
