This section is written for considering orthodontic treatment for your child. It is designed to give you general, yet factual, information about orthodontics.
Most parents consider having their child see an orthodontist for two reasons: (1) Their dentist has told them that their child's teeth are misaligned, a problem which will eventually affect their oral health; and/or (2) they are concerned about the appearance of their child's mouth. Large spaces between the teeth, crooked lower teeth, and a protruding over-bite or bucked teeth are a few of the most common complaints. The qualified orthodontist is trained to diagnose and correct such problems.
All of us approach any new project with some apprehension. We expect you will feel the same at this point. Review these frequently asked questions we hear from parents considering orthodontic treatment for their child. We hope the answers provided will help with your understanding of orthodontics and what it can accomplish.
Below are pictures and details of successful orthodontics in children.
When nature provides teeth that are very large and supporting bones that are too small, something has to give!
The lips develop unpleasant thickness and the muscles surrounding the mouth become heavy trying to cover the very large teeth.
After removing carefully selected teeth, aesthetic braces were placed. Two years of competent treatment by her orthodontist, coupled with a very motivated and cooperative patient, resulted in a beautiful facial change. You can easily see what this did for her self-image.
This young man had a severe mouth breathing condition due to enlarged adenoids and a retruded lower jaw.
This combination invariably results in poor lip posture and a toothy look.
After the removal of his Naso-Pharynx obstruction (adenoids), he could breathe much more easily. Following this, he had two years of braces and other orthodontic guidance. He now has a comfortable and competent smile and the bite or occlusion is normal.
This young man brought three problems to his orthodontist: very large teeth, a severe overbite, and an underdeveloped lower jaw.
Four carefully selected teeth were removed to provide room for the crowded teeth. Braces then rearranged the unsightly teeth. The protruding front teeth were brought back. At the same time the lower jaw was encouraged forward.
A severe overbite can result in a roll of the lower lip, making it difficult to close the lips together and nearly impossible to keep them closed when relaxed.
By wearing a restraining appliance, or headgear, growth was influenced in a positive way. Two years of braces plus conscientious headgear wear resulted in this pleasing, relaxed profile.
This facial pattern was ideal for a functional appliance.
These appliances are designed to control the effect that muscles and posture exert on growing bones, as well as on the developing teeth.
Over several months of wear, this dramatic and pleasant change occurred. A real commitment on the part of the child and parents is required, but is so rewarding to both.
- At what age should my child see an orthodontist?
- What causes crooked teeth?
- Why should I be concerned about my child's bite?
- What part does heredity play?
- How do orthodontists straighten teeth?
- Will it hurt?
- What about extra-curricular activities?
- Will my child look funny?
- How long will treatment take?
- How often will my child need office visits?
- How much will it cost?
- Will my dental insurance pay for it?
- Will the improvement be permanent?
- At what age should my child see an orthodontist?
- What causes crooked teeth?
- Why should I be concerned about my child's bite?
- What part does heredity play?
- How do orthodontists straighten teeth?
- Will it hurt?
- What about extra-curricular activities?
- Will my child look funny?
- How long will treatment take?
- How often will my child need office visits?
- How much will it cost?
- Will my dental insurance pay for it?
- Will the improvement be permanent?
Most authorities agree that six or seven is a good age for your child's first orthodontic examination. Conditions may be found that can be corrected at this early age by interceptive measures. This often will lessen or eliminate the need for help at an older age. That in turn can be a savings in the total cost of your child's orthodontic correction.
Please don't wait until your child has lost all of his or her baby teeth. There are definite advantages to correcting many problems at an early age. Waiting until all baby teeth are lost can often complicate an otherwise fairly simple problem, Let your orthodontist decide the best time to intercept or correct your child's orthodontic problem.
Crowded teeth, thumb sucking, tongue thrusting, premature loss of baby teeth, a poor breathing airway caused by enlarged adenoids or tonsils can all contribute to poor tooth positioning. And then there are the hereditary factors. Extra teeth, large teeth, missing teeth, wide spacing, small jaws -all can be causes of crowded teeth.
A bad bite can be detrimental to the future of your child's mouth. Restorations, crowns or bridges are often impossible for a dentist to perform without prior repositioning of the teeth by an orthodontist. Properly aligned and supported teeth are healthier, easier to clean, and therefore more likely to last throughout a patient's lifetime.
Heredity is a complicated combination of factors. Both parents may have perfectly aligned teeth. And the first child's teeth may erupt uneventfully. Then comes the second child and it is as if hereditary factors are working against each other. The child's teeth appear normal, but their alignment is going to cause problems in the future. So, assume neither the best nor the worst. Have your orthodontist evaluate your child's bite and proceed from there.
Tooth movement is actually a normal response to light pressure. Pressure is applied by using a variety of orthodontic hardware appliances), the most common being a brace or bracket attached to the teeth and connected By an archwire. Periodic changing of these archwires puts pressure on the teeth. At different stages of treatment your child may wear a headgear, elastics, a positioner or a retainer.
Discomfort has to result when we loosen a tooth for movement. This usually lasts about 48 to 72 hours and then the teeth are comfortable again. Each succeeding adjustment will mean some minor discomfort, although our patients report a lessening of pain as the treatment progresses.
We heartily encourage your child to pursue extra-curricular interests. Athletics can be a regular part of this routine. Certain musical instruments can actually be helpful during treatment. Speech may at first be somewhat affected, but only for a day or two. So we tell our patients that othodontics is a normal part of this phase in their lives and that treatment should not preclude any activities they usually pursue within their school's programs.
Not necessarily. Braces on the teeth are required to move them to the desired positions. Braces are the handles used to move your teeth in a positive manner. They vary from the conventional steel bands cemented around the teeth to less obvious brackets bonded or cemented to the outer surfaces of the teeth. Plastic braces may be used for minor corrections. Ceramic brackets, which are similar in color to teeth, are less obvious to the casual observer and offer the versatility of regular stainless steel braces. The latest ones are translucent enough to actually allow the natural shading of the teeth to show through. In all cases, regardless of the braces used on your child's teeth, the activating part of your braces is the wire that goes from tooth to tooth. It is not uncommon to observe half of the children in a school class having some sort of braces. Many kids consider braces "neat" and the "in" thing.
Orthodontic correction can vary from the comparatively simple closing of front spaces in a few months, to the realignment of unsightly and disfiguring teeth. In the young child or the adolescent, treatment is as much a critical matter of timing and guidance as anything else. The normal treatment time varies from eighteen months to three years depending on the complexity of the problem.
Appointments can be scheduled from two to six-week intervals, depending on the stage of treatment. In the initial stage, the appointments are more frequent. Once the appliances (braces) are in place, appointments are scheduled at longer intervals. Every effort will be made to schedule appointments after school hours, but many times your child will have to come during school hours. School authorities are usually understanding.
Do not assume your treatment will cost the same as someone else's. Because no two problems are the same, treatment plans and accompanying costs will vary among patients. hose factors affecting the simplicity or complexity of your problem will be explained in detail by your orthodontist. All offices offer.reasonable payment plans, conveniently spread ove r the estimated treatment period.
Today many dental policies include orthodontic benefits. For questions concerning eligibility, a pre-determination of available benefits can be requested from your insurance company representative. Some companies require submission of a diagnosis and treatment plan as well as a suggested payment schedule by your orthodontist before treatment begins. The percentage of reimbursement varies from plan to plan.
The combined experience of orthodontists across the country points to a 95% permanent improvement rate. Teeth, like all parts of the body, are constantly changing and adapting. Where growth guidance is accomplished, the results are usually permanent. Jaw relationships affecting facial contours can be expected to remain for life. However, there are certain types of facial patterns that continue to change even past adolescence. (Should this be the case with your child, of course it will be discussed thoroughly so you are made aware of any detrimental growth indications.) Conscientious retainer wear following treatment will minimize minor movement or relapse.