Straighten Up with Traditional Braces
Even with the popularity of alternative clear alignment treatments, traditional metal braces are still an ever-reliable and budget-friendly option for parents of adolescents. Tried and true, traditional braces are an excellent treatment choice for children, as they are typically only worn for 2 years and do not require much maintenance. If your child has a bite or spacing issue, consult with our orthodontist about whether or not braces are the right course of action.
Our orthodontists at Premier Dental Center New Braunfels encourage parents to schedule their child’s first orthodontist appointment at age 7. This initial appointment can be a referral from your child’s dentist, or you can schedule this on your own. This initial appointment will be to assess whether or not your child is at risk of developing orthodontic problems and when intervention should begin.
Early Intervention is Key
When treatment begins early, the orthodontist can guide the growth of the jaw and guide incoming permanent teeth. Early treatment can help:
- Regulate the width of the upper and lower dental arches
- Gain space for permanent teeth
- Avoid the need for permanent tooth extractions
- Reduce the likelihood of impacted permanent teeth
- Correct thumb-sucking
- Eliminate abnormal swallowing or speech problems.
In other words, early treatment can simplify later treatment.
Knowing Which Treatment is Right
With Invisalign becoming more and more popular among adults or older teens, many parents are asking about which treatment is right for their child. Our orthodontists highly recommend that a child under the age of 16 opt for metal braces, as they require significantly less self-discipline than clear aligners. Invisalign aligners can be removed to eat, to speak, or if they interfere in another area of daily life, but unless they are worn close to 24 hours every day, results will be impacted negatively. Children may take these aligners out, forget to replace them, not clean their teeth or the aligners before replacing them, and the list goes on. For those older than 16 years of age, Invisalign could be a great option, but it is important to know your child, and their level of maturity, and always consult your orthodontist before deciding.
The orthodontist will help teach your child about cleaning and maintaining their metal braces to encourage the best possible results that last.
Consult Your Orthodontist About Braces
Your dentist may have recommended that your child see an orthodontist, or you may have decided to get a consult on your own, whatever the case may be, our orthodontics team at Premier Dental Center New Braunfels is here to help you navigate the journey of orthodontics with your child! Our expert and professional orthodontic team will give you all the information about treatment plans, costs, and outcomes to help you decide which option is right for your family. During your initial consult, the orthodontist will help you decide if braces are needed.
We offer flexible scheduling so you can easily schedule an appointment at our convenient New Braunfels location by calling our orthodontics line at 726-201-1526. Get started today!