Child orthodontics
Irregular tooth growth starts very early on. During the process of replacing baby teeth with permanent teeth there is usually very little thought given on how they are growing and will it lead to an irregular bite. Orthodontics in childhood is primarily concerned with regular growth and development and correcting irregular bite.
Symptoms that your child needs orthodontic treatment
You can notice that your child has symptoms that indicate irregular bite and needs treatment very early on.
Some of the symptoms are:
- Irregularly set teeth
- “A lisp when speaking
- Irregular pronunciation of some voices
- Sleeping with an open mouth
- Noticeable chewing problems
If you see these symptoms, we recommend taking your child to an examination to determine if treatment is needed and how to carry it out.
When should a child be taken to their first orthodontists visit?
We recommend having the first visit to the orthodontist at around the age of seven. That is the age when the process of permanent tooth growth is still going on. The bones of the face and head are also growing and developing. In the case of pseudoprogeria, when the upper jaw is falling behind in development, it is sometimes necessary to react at this type of an early age.
Most often, the ideal age to start orthodontic treatment in children is when all the permanent teeth have started growing, or between ten and twelve. In the case of real progenia, the start of orthodontic treatment is delayed until the end of advanced growth in puberty. This is usually around eighteen.
Even if orthodontic treatment is not needed, it’s good to bring your child for an examination in order to make sure that everything is in order.
The orthodontic treatment process in children
As with any orthodontic treatment, the start of treatment is with diagnostics which involves taking x-rays of the jaw.
Based on the diagnostics and the state of the oral cavity the orthodontist creates a treatment plan. The process itself can be carried out in a few ways and the recommendation is done by the orthodontist.
Transparent appliance orthodontics
Mobile braces have a great advantage – they’re possible to remove by yourself and they’re easier to clean. Still, that can present a problem if the child refuses to wear it at least sixteen hours a day.
In order for the whole process to be successful the child needs to have great discipline. The mobile orthodontic appliance is kept in its appropriate box for the remaining eight hours.
It is necessary to brush your teeth and, in the same way, brush the braces before setting them. This is a rule with no exceptions.
The brace must always be brought to each checkup.
Orthodontic treatment with fixed braces
Around twelve years of age, even though it can vary, the growth of permanent teeth is finished. This is the time when fixed brace treatment can begin.
Brackets are glued to the teeth and cannot be removed, unlike with mobile braces. The setting, removal, and adjustment of the brackets is done by the orthodontist. The brackets themselves come in many types and materials.
It’s important to take special care of what food the patient is consuming for the duration of the treatment. Hard foods, like nuts, can cause the brackets to fall off. If that happens the orthodontist will glue it once more and the treatment can carry on as usual.
Along with the careful choice of food and cutting it up into more manageable pieces, it’s important to also maintain regular oral hygiene. This is best done after every meal. During this treatment your dental hygiene should be immaculate.
The retention phase
After the process of dental correction we come to the retention phase. Here we use special retention appliances or wire elements, better known as retainers, to retain the teeth in this new, correct position.
Retention is also an important phase in the orthodontic process which can’t be ignored. It should always be carried out according to the instructions given by the orthodontist.
Don’t ignore irregular growth in your child’s teeth
As a sort of conclusion we would like to add that you should never ignore irregular teeth in children. Even if we ignore the esthetic aspect, irregular teeth carry all sorts of additional problems and jaw pains. These will have to then be dealt with through orthodontics sooner or later.
Our recommendation is to sort out these issues as soon as possible. If you do it early the process is easier and quicker and it’s possible to have additional influence over the correct growth of teeth.
If your child has problems with irregular dental growth you can contact us with complete confidence and ask us for any and all information you may need.
We have a solution for every orthodontic irregularity and we will provide your child with a pleasing and harmonious smile without chewing or swallowing irregularities, or jaw pain.
