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Dental braces are a type of orthodontic treatment used to correct teeth that are crowded, crooked, protruding, out of alignment or have irregular spacing. It's important to maintain regular checkups with your child's dentist to monitor the position of their teeth. A dentist or orthodontist can recommend the best course of treatment for helping your child create their best smile at an early age. By moving a child's teeth into an ideal position, braces help to create a more attractive and healthier smile. Why are Braces Needed? If your child's teeth are crooked and crowded, keeping them clean becomes fairly difficult. When brushing and flossing cannot be properly performed, tooth decay, gum disease and possible tooth loss may occur. An improper bite can also interfere with your child's ability to chew and speak properly. Additionally, if your child's teeth are protruding and/or their upper and lower teeth don't come together comfortably, jaw problems may occur. By keeping your child's teeth properly aligned, and allowing for better oral hygiene, braces can help your child maintain healthy teeth, gums and oral cavity. What Age is Appropriate for Braces? Typically, a child inherits tooth spacing, malocclusion, crowding, misalignment or similar problems from their parents, but these conditions may be caused by bad habits such as thumb-sucking, tongue thrusting, lip wedging and mouth breathing, premature loss of teeth or trauma. These will generally begin to appear between the ages of seven and twelve years old because this is when permanent teeth will start to erupt. Orthodontic treatments with braces should typically begin between the ages of eight and fourteen in order to achieve optimal results, but even adults can receive braces as treatment for a straighter smile. It is ideal to have an orthodontic evaluation no later than the age of seven since it is the time where your child has a good mixture of primary and adult teeth in their mouth. Additionally, your child's dentist is better able to spot developing teeth and jaw growth at this time in their life, which enables them to anticipate potential problems that may arise and plan the braces treatment accordingly. The Braces Procedure Initially, your child will undergo a consultation with an orthodontist that involves an initial examination, discussion of their dental history and review of x-rays of their teeth and mouth. This will help in determining whether the condition is serious enough to require braces and, if so, what the best treatment is. When braces are placed, a cheek retractor is used to keep the teeth visible and dry during the procedure. Your child's teeth are first polished to ensure that the brackets will bond properly, after which they are air dried. When your child's braces are first placed and then later adjusted, they can expect to feel some tightness, which typically progresses to soreness for approximately four to six hours after treatment. The soreness can be expected to decrease within the following days. Remember, the key to correcting dental issues for your child is regular visits to the dentist and good oral hygiene. If you suspect your child might need braces, consult your dentist in Harlem for further treatment and consultation.
Owned and operated by Dr. Ernest Robertson, dentist in Harlem, Harlem Center for Aesthetic Dentistry is committed to providing patients with the best dental health care available. Joining Dr. Robertson are Drs. Cecilia LaRoche, and Angela Verma. Harlem Center for Aesthetic Dentistry maintains the ability to perform an array of dental treatments including braces in Harlem
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