{"id":1464,"date":"2019-02-15T12:35:06","date_gmt":"2019-02-15T19:35:06","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.belmarorthodontics.com\/?p=1464"},"modified":"2022-10-18T01:02:46","modified_gmt":"2022-10-18T01:02:46","slug":"does-your-child-really-need-braces","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.belmarorthodontics.com\/does-your-child-really-need-braces\/","title":{"rendered":"Does Your Child Really Need Braces?"},"content":{"rendered":"

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We typically get our braces put on during our teenage to adult years, but how do you know whether your young child should have braces or not? Child orthodontics is a common practice for those children struggling with crooked, overlapping, or overcrowded teeth, or a misaligned jaw. There are many advantages for children as they receive braces earlier on in life as it can prevent future orthodontic treatment and guide incoming teeth into the proper position. Learn how to recognize whether your child needs braces through these tips!<\/p>\n

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When To Start<\/h2>\n

Young kids go through a lot of physical changes during adolescence, and some of those changes include jaw and teeth development. Orthodontics has become more and more common in young children to adjust certain orthodontic issues that occasionally occur as a child develops. Traditionally, orthodontic treatment begins once a child has lost most of their baby (primary<\/a>) teeth and a majority of their permanent teeth have grown in, which typically occurs between the ages of 8 and 14. Even though braces is recommended at this age, it is a good idea to get an orthodontic evaluation for your child by the time they turn 7 years old; at this age, an orthodontist is able to detect early symptoms of orthodontic problems, such as an underbite or crossbite<\/a>, which can cause severe complications and more treatment later on if left untreated at an early age. Bones are still growing during this age, so it is an ideal time to meet with an orthodontist to monitor bone and jaw development while evaluating any apparent orthodontic issues.<\/p>\n

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Advantages of Child Orthodontics<\/h2>\n

Although child orthodontics is only necessary if there are physical developmental issues within the mouth, receiving orthodontic treatment as a child has certain advantages. Visiting an orthodontist at an early age allows for observation of incoming teeth and reduces the risk of impacted teeth as your child loses their baby teeth and their permanent teeth take their place. As the orthodontist monitors your child\u2019s teeth, they can help guide their teeth into the correct position as soon as they begin erupting, usually through braces or other orthodontic devices that help move teeth into the correct positions. Regular orthodontic visits also decrease the risk of hidden dental issues and permanent tooth extractions<\/a>, as it allows for the orthodontist to adjust the jaw so that teeth crowding doesn\u2019t occur.<\/p>\n

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Child orthodontics doesn\u2019t always imply braces. Since a child\u2019s jaw and teeth are still growing, many orthodontic issues, such as crowding, can be addressed before complications occur later on during adolescence. In this case, orthodontic treatment in young children is known as interceptive orthodontics<\/a>. Many times, a child\u2019s dental arch may be too small to fit all of their teeth. Just a few decades ago, it was a common practice to simply remove some permanent teeth to make space in the mouth. Now, though, child orthodontics can avoid this through the use of a palatal expander that expands the child\u2019s upper dental arch, which allows adult teeth to emerge in a better position. Interceptive orthodontics can speed up the process of aligning teeth into the proper position and cause future treatment to be shorter and less involved.<\/p>\n

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How Much Does It Cost\"Transparent<\/h2>\n

If braces are fit too early on a child, treatment can take longer and be more expensive. For this reason, it\u2019s important to have regular orthodontic visits to monitor tooth and jaw development to ensure that whenever your child receives braces, it\u2019s at the correct time. The braces that your orthodontist recommends will depend on your child\u2019s type of problem that he or she has. There are three types of braces that most children will receive, and they each have different advantages and disadvantages:<\/p>\n

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