Getting braces isn’t something any kid wants. Kids might even fight you on the decision since they won’t want to feel self-conscious at school. What they don’t realize is that half of the other kids on the playground are also going to have braces within a year or two.
When it comes to getting braces,
early treatment can make a big difference in dental development later in life. Getting braces for your child when he or she is young can also improve your child’s self-confidence.
Keep reading to learn more about why
early braces are often the best choice for children and for parents who want their kids to have the healthiest teeth possible.
1. Early Correction
There are a variety of
reasons a child might get early braces treatment from an orthodontist. Among the most common reasons for early braces are a bad bite, known as malocclusion; an underbite; or crooked, overlapping, or crowded teeth.
By catching these issues early, your orthodontist will be able to fix them. While there’s no set age for a child to get braces, the general consensus is that early braces tend to be better for dental development and permanent correction than waiting until your child is in his or her mid- or late teens.
2. Less Dental Discomfort
Some of the problems that braces fix are cosmetic, but others are related to your child’s dental health and comfort. That’s because some issues, like overlapping or crowded teeth, a pronounced overbite, or an underbite, can cause discomfort to the teeth, gums, and jaw as your child gets older.
By taking care of basic dental issues with early braces for your child, your child will experience less dental discomfort down the road if he or she sees a dentist regularly for cleanings and basic care. Your child may also be less
likely to need more expensive dental work as he or she gets older.
That’s especially true for children with overcrowding because teeth that are too close together can be difficult to floss and brush properly. Over time, that can lead to more cavities and the need for serious dental procedures including root canal treatment, crowns, and even implants.
3. More Self-Confidence
By getting early braces for your child, you won’t have to worry as much about your child feeling uncomfortable in social situations because he or she is self-conscious about his or her smile. That’s because most younger children won’t be in social situations in which they care too much about how they look other than with their friends. Most kids don’t develop much social anxiety until their early teen years.
If you wait too long, you’ll have a child who is turning 14, 15, 16, or 17 and still wearing braces. At this point, teens are developing more complex interpersonal relationships, and showing their braces when they smile may be uncomfortable and embarrassing for them.
By correcting your child’s teeth early, you’ll give him or her a beautiful, natural looking smile. The confidence a great smile inspires will carry your child through his or her high school, college, and adult years.
To learn more about how your child can receive braces early, visit our website today!
