Children Braces

Orthodontics for children

What age should I bring my child for am orthodontic checkup?

The American Dental Assocation of Orthodontist (AAO) recommends getting a check with an orthdoontist on your child’s tooth at around aged 7 to detect any potential issues. If you child has surpass this age, you can still bring them to an orthodontist.

Having a checkup does not mean that your child requires orthodontic treatment. A checkup lets your child’s orthodontist checks their jaw growth and bite. Children will have a mix of primary baby teeth and permanent teeth with their face and jaws are still growing. In the case that a problem is actually detected, your child’s orthodontist will likely wait and track your child’s development periodically.

Timing is determined by the type of problem that your child has and your child’s stage of dental development. If you child has orthodontic problems, they will not straigthen out on its own. Untreated orthodontic problems can become more difficult to treat as your child gets older. Some orthdoontic problems, especially if related to jaw guidance will need to be treated before face and jaws stop growing. Whilst other problems may only require tooth movement that is done and started later when most permament teeth have erupted.

Most children or teens start treatment between the ages of 9 and 16. As they are still growing, orthodontists are usually able to treat most conditions successfully.

Early orthodontic treatment for children

If your child has received orthodontic treatment on their primary teeth, it may not mean that they have completed their orthodontic treatment process. Early treatment on moving baby teeth is not to improve appearance but to create a healthy environment for your child’s permanent teeth to grow in. Baby teeth may be repositioned as a preventive or interceptive treatment. Their primary teeth hold space for permanent teeth.

Most of the time, a second phase of comprehensive orthodontic treatment is planned when your child’s permanent teeth has grown usually around their teenager years. This completes the tooth and jaw alignment that was started with a first phase of preventive or interceptive treatment.

Types of children braces

Your child can choose from all types of braces options. Based on past experience at BIDH orthodontic dental center, the most commonly braces types opted for kids braces are:

First orthodontic visit by your child

If it is the first time your dentist visits the orthodontist, you can walk through ad let them know what happens during their first visit. For children, you as the guardian can always be present and sitted within the same treatment room as your child.

1. Your child’s orthodontist will invite you and your child to the treatment room sitting down at the table to listen to your concerns and answer your first questions.
2. Your child is then invited onto the dental chair to have a quick look at. The orthodontist may ask your child to bite down to observe how the top and bottom teeth come together as well as the positions of the upper and lower jaws.
3. The orthodontist may then ask for x-ray images to be taken. At BIDH orthodontic dental clinic, we use advance digitalized segmentation imaging with one of the world’s lowest reduced dose exposure. If you child had previous x-rays taken before within 6 months, please do bring them along so new images are not taken. The images allows your orthodontist to accurately diagnose your child’s orthodontic problem
4. Thereafter, the orthodontist discusses if any treatment is required, when treatment should begin and/or the type of treatment that is recommended.
5. Followup appointments are made. If no problem is detected, periodic visits may be made to further track your child’s future growth and development to ensure permanent teeth grown in at the right time and sequence.

Some questions commonly addressed during your first visit

1. Is there an orthodontic problem?
2. What are your treatment options to correct the problem?
3. How long is the estimated treatment?
4. How much will the various treatment options costs?

Signs on orthodontic problems for children

Here are some possible indications for you to bring your child to an orthodontist whereby they may need children braces when they reach a certain age:

1. Early or late loss of baby teeth
2. Difficulty in chewing or biting. For example, not using front area to bite but always using back teeth to cut
3. Mouth breathing
4. Jaws that shift or make sounds
5. Speech difficulties
6. Biting the cheek or the roof of the mouth
7. Facial imbalance
8. Grinding or clenching of teeth
9. Not being able to close mouth all the way

Orthodontist for children braces

When you bring your child to a general dentist or pediatric dentist, they may perform teeth cleanings, scaling, polishing, dental fillings or flouride treatment, but are unlikely to be an orthodontist that accesses dentofacial orthopedics. If you realize that your child may possibly have orthodontic problems, seek an appointment for an orthodontist with our BIDH dental hospital customer service. Dental consultations with our dentist at BIDH orthdoontic dental clinic are complimentary and with no obligation.

Orthodontist normally limit their scope of practice to orthodontics only. They continue their education after dental school as a general dentist to specialized and successfully complete additiona two-to-three years training course. Orthodontist has the unique qualification, skills and experience to diagnoses, prevent and correct malpositioned teeth and jaws. They are specially qualified with intense instruction to do proper, safe teeth movement and the guidance of dental, jaw and facial development.

At BIDH orthodontic dental center, all our orthodontic cases are cared for by selected and well-experienced board certified orthodontists, many of whom are also overseas board certified.