Straight Teeth; Teenage Friendly Orthodontic Choices For Your Child
As more people are becoming self-conscious about the importance of their smiles and appearance, the demand for orthodontic treatment – especially among youngsters – has also increased. And today, fixed metal braces are not the only option for straightening teeth. Instead, prospective patients can choose from various options according to their convenience and budgetary constraints. So, if you are thinking of getting your teeth straightened, and searching for teenage-friendly choices, this article is for you. This blog explains everything you need to know about orthodontic treatment options for teenagers so that you can make an informed decision about your treatment.
At What Age Should A Child First Visit An Orthodontist?
Orthodontics around the globe recommend that parents bring their kids for an orthodontic checkup – even if they don’t have any noticeable tooth misalignment – during their early years. Similarly, the American Association of Orthodontists recommends that parents bring their children for an orthodontic checkup no later than their seventh birthday. This allows the orthodontists to identify any underlying issues that may cause tooth alignment problems later in life, and take measures to prevent them.
How Effective Is Orthodontics In Teens?
Although teeth can be straightened with orthodontic treatment at any age, the best time to seek orthodontic treatment is teenage. This is because during these years, the body is actively growing during these years, and the bones possess the excellent potential to change their shape. Therefore, it is easier for dentists to use braces or clear aligners – which exert pressure on the tooth roots – and move them in the desired direction. So, orthodontic treatment is highly effective for a teenager.
What Are The Benefits Of Orthodontics?
Many people believe that orthodontic treatment only restores one’s smile and appearance . However, the fact is that orthodontic treatment offers much more benefits than improvement in one’s smile. For example, orthodontic treatment straightens the teeth. As a result, it is easier to clean the teeth properly through brushing and flossing. Thereby reducing the chances of dental problems such as teeth cavities and gum disease. Furthermore, straightened teeth also improve dental function by improving chewing efficiency and helping improve one’s physical health and well-being.
How Can I Best Ensure Straight Teeth For My Children?
One of the common causes of tooth misalignment in children is poor dental habits such as thumb sucking, nail-biting, and tongue thrusting. Therefore, the best thing parents can do to ensure straight teeth in their children is to monitor them for any parafunctional dental habits. If their child develops parafunctional habits, they must consult a dentist immediately so that corrective measures can be taken.
Should Teeth Aligning Be Done As A Teenager?
Teenage is the time to straighten teeth. Why? Because during young age, the bones possess an excellent capability to grow and remodel themselves. Therefore, when dentists exert pressure on the tooth roots, this pressure is transmitted to the underlying jawbone, and it remodels itself to allow the movement of the tooth in the desired direction. Unfortunately, as age increases, the ability of bones to remodel becomes lesser. Therefore, the ideal time to seek orthodontic treatment is during the teenage, when all the permanent teeth – except the wisdom teeth – have come out.
What Are The Benefits Of Having Perfectly Straight Teeth?
Perfectly straight and aligned teeth offer the following benefits:
- Improved smile and appearance
- Boost in self-confidence
- Improved oral health
- Improved physical health and well-being
- Improved speech
How Long Will It Take For Braces To Straighten My Teeth?
Different braces types take different amounts of time to fix tooth misalignment. Besides, it also depends on patient compliance and the dentist’s skill. However, typically it may take anywhere between 6-8 months to treat a mild orthodontic issue. On the other hand, a complicated or highly complex orthodontic problem may take between 24-40 months for treatment.
Will Braces Still Work As Well For An 18-Year-Old?
It is said that age is just a number when it comes to orthodontic treatment. This means that no matter how old you are – whether sixteen or sixty – you can still get your teeth straightened. However, the most suitable time for orthodontic treatment is as a teenager, when the bones are amenable to remodelling. But this does not mean orthodontic treatment is ineffective after teenage stage. However, it takes longer to fix an orthodontic issue as one grows older than at a young age.
Why Do People Decide Not To Have Their Teeth Straightened?
One of the most common reasons for not seeking orthodontic treatment is the high cost. However, today there are numerous treatment options available having different prices, ranging from high-cost to low-cost and affordable ones. Another reason for avoiding orthodontic treatment is the unwillingness to wear the unaesthetic metal braces. But, again, other, less-conspicuous options are available as an alternative.
What Happens If You Don’t Brush Teeth While You Have Braces?
Your treatment progress while wearing braces is directly linked to your oral hygiene status. Research has shown that poor oral hygiene maintenance during orthodontic treatment negatively affects the treatment speed and slows down tooth movement. Therefore, optimal oral hygiene maintenance through brushing, flossing, and regular dental checkups during treatment are essential to achieve a favourable treatment outcome.
If you are looking for a renowned and reputable orthodontic practice in Winsdor for your kids, Smile 101 specialist orthodontic centre is the best place to go. We offer dental services for your entire family under one roof in a comfortable and relaxing environment. So, book a free online consultation with us today and let us give your kid a healthy, lasting, and beautiful smile.