It’s a new year, and that means we’re all one year older and wiser! If you’re a parent, 2021 may be the year you start wondering whether your kid should see an orthodontist. Here are some helpful tips to let you know if or when an orthodontist visit is necessary for your child.

Being a parent regularly involves making crucial decisions on behalf of the child’s well-being. Many parents believe that when it comes to maintaining the oral health of your kid, it is a complicated path to take. There are so many questions puzzling your mind concerning whether your teen would require braces or other orthodontic treatments. This piece of writing will clear every confusion you have regarding when and why should you consider that your teen gets braces.

Minimum Age & Requirements for Braces

The perfect time to know whether your child would pose any dental issues in the future is when your child will have a mixture of both baby and adult teeth. To be specific, the minimum age for your child to visit a specialist is age 7. The erupting of adult molars and frontal incisors by the age of 7 would allow the orthodontist to have a clear picture of how confident his/her smile would be. Besides, the majority of all patients require braces to be put on only during the age of 9 to find an optimum time between the transition from baby teeth to adult teeth stage. This allows parents to know present as well as future problems and get their finances prepared on schedule.

When to Think About Getting Braces

Let’s have a look into the situations when parents should think about getting braces for their kids.

Spacing and overcrowding – Having excessive gaps between teeth or having too little gap between teeth, both incur severe problems such as gum disease and damaged roots. Braces might help with the correct alignment and avoid further complications.

Underbites and overbites – While thumb-sucking and pacifier use are very common among babies, the prolonged habit may cause underbites (lower teeth extending in front of upper teeth) or overbites (upper teeth extending in front of lower teeth), and braces can help the child’s oral health along with improved self-consciousness.

Openbites and crossbites – Openbites can be understood when the child’s upper front teeth and lower front teeth do not come together on closing, and crossbites happen when teeth do not fit precisely over each other. Braces have been known to correct bites.

Misaligned jaw – Along with ache and discomfort, uneven bites can also be the result of misaligned jaws. Braces help develop overall facial structure by aligning jaws accurately.

Other teeth-related problems – Whether it is crooked teeth, gum disease, speaking and eating disorders, impacted teeth, or any other overall tooth positioning problems, braces work wonders when the teen’s mouth is still adapting to growth.

Benefits & Considerations of Braces

While teens wearing braces is not at all an uncommon scene over the decades owing to its time-tested effectiveness to solve even the most complicated problems as mentioned p Some of the hidden benefits of braces to straighten your teeth are:

• Your child will smile more often due to perfect teeth.
• Your child gets improved oral hygiene due to proper cleaning.
• Your teen’s overall oral health risks, such as gum disease and tooth decay, will lower.
• Your kid’s difficulty with speech and digestion will improve.
• Your kid will have reduced chances of teeth injury.
• Being a parent, you save time and money.

It’s important to go through some important considerations regarding orthodontic procedures, such as braces, that are more or less life-changing.

• Schedule your child’s visit to a dentist/orthodontist as soon as he/she steps into their 7th
• Go through all possible treatment options in terms of effectiveness, cost, and time.
• Look into the medical and financial plans that could give you optimum coverage.
• Make sure you know the terms and conditions of your preferred orthodontist’s payment options.
• Be supportive during your teen’s stresses as many teenagers are self-conscious.
• Be prepared to follow the orthodontist’s instructions throughout the treatment procedure previously.

Treatment Choices

There are various choices to solve orthodontic issues and suit the needs of your teen. Here are some of the popular teeth straightening options for your child.

Traditional Metal Braces – This is the most common, effective, and less costly method to treat complicated problems. With metal braces, brackets, wires, and bands, your child will only need to accept the new look.

Ceramic Braces – These are tooth-colored ceramic braces similar to the traditional ones except being less noticeable and slightly costlier, but requires greater maintenance.

Invisalign – As the name suggests, it’s invisible. With transparent and flexible medical grade removable plastic aligners, Invisalign has gained worldwide popularity.

How to Choose the Right Orthodontist

You don’t just trust anyone with something as crucial as health and wellness. Here are a few tips on how to choose the right orthodontist.

Firstly, it is important to understand the extent of complication your child’s oral health poses. One consultation would specify whether you need a dentist’s general advice for simple problems or an orthodontist’s specialized advice for complicated issues.

We agree with the common perception that a stronger reputation and longer experience would result in favorable service. Furthermore, it is important to note the orthodontist’s experience in treating children or teenagers whose ages are similar to that of yours for proper guidance and outcome.

Along with the cost and type of treatments offered by the orthodontist, parents must also enquire about facts on how convenient the location and office hours are. Moreover, a hygienic office environment and consultation-friendly attitudes are important for reliable and professional orthodontic service.

The answer to whether your teen needs to get braces, whether the child is too young, and how long your teen should wait can be solved by a simple early visit to the orthodontist. Definitely make it a goal to schedule an appointment for your child this year!

Reference: {https://expressdigest.com/should-your-teen-get-braces-when-is-too-young-and-should-your-teen-wait/}

A new year is a perfect time to explore orthodontic options for your child. We’re here to help! Dr. Matza is very well known in South Florida for his expertise. You can read more on his biography and accolaides on our website, and can also request a tour of our facilities. Visit our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/MatzaOrthodontics or call us at (561) 368-3480, and we will be happy to answer all of your questions!

Dr. Barry Matza
We love a healthy smile!

Have you always envisioned having the smile of your dreams – or ensuring your kid’s smiles develop top-notch? Our caring and knowledgeable staff in Boca Raton work hard to provide you with unparalleled service and attention.

Visit our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/MatzaOrthodontics
or give us a call at (561) 368-3480.
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