Bring back your smile with braces that are perfect for you!

More than 4 million Americans wear braces, most of them are younger than 18 years old. This number is about 100% more than the number of people wearing braces 15 years ago – which is alarming! Braces come in a variety of designs, but all can be re-designed and narrowed to create a more attractive smile. Dentist Laguna Niguel recommends braces that are perfect for you!

How young is too young for braces?

If your child’s smile is not perfect, you may want to know if your child is too young for the braces and when to let your child go to the orthodontist for an evaluation.

The answer is different for each child and it varies for every situation. Some problems, such as underbites, tooth crowded or overlapped, are best treated at 8 or 9 years of age. Most other orthodontic problems are best left in place until the child’s permanent teeth are in their place.

At what age should parents start thinking about doing orthodontic work for their children?

Fortunately, this question is easy to answer. Parents should take their child around age seven for an orthodontic examination. This is to examine the issues that are difficult to fix, which can be corrected before the orthotics and can simplify future treatment times, costs, and procedures (e.g., removal of permanent teeth or even surgery in limited circumstances).

The Phase 1 treatment does not apply to simple orthodontic problems but suggests significant problems, such as excessive tooth outbreaks or unexploded space, significant over-injection (buck teeth), occlusion, occlusion or modification. The child’s growth is for his or her benefit.

Although some parents may want to correct their teeth at a young age, the first stage of treatment is to address the basic problem of mandibular alignment and create space for permanent teeth to enter the arch.

After meeting these basic concerns, the child should be prepared for a fairly straightforward Phase 2 or comprehensive orthodontic treatment (i.e. braces).

According to the American Orthodontic Association, it is essential for all parents to bring their children to their first appointment at the age of 7.

By the age of 7, your child’s backbite will grow completely. It allows your orthodontist to observe and evaluate the anterior and posterior relationship of the child’s teeth.

Through this assessment, doctors can discover current orthodontic problems and any problems that may arise – allowing the doctor to choose to start treatment immediately or wait and monitor the child’s development until the desired time.

Not every child needs early orthodontic treatment, but as long as your child is 6 or 7 years old, they are not too young to treat their teeth. In fact, taking them for evaluation is the best way to ensure that they smile for life.

Is there something like “too young” in orthodontic work?

Parents want their children to have braces for two major reasons:

1) Achieve various objectives including alignment of the jaws, and create space for permanent teeth

2) Adjust the teeth for cosmetic purposes. It may be because the mother wants to see straight teeth, or the child may be involved in a game or social occasion where the family wants the child to have a perfect smile.

Advantages or disadvantages of starting orthodontic work at a young age

The American Orthodontic Association recommends orthodontic treatment to begin at the age of seven. Treatment can begin early which may prevent more serious problems from happening and may make treatment at a later age shorter and less complicated.

Most children don’t need the first stage. Parents should be able to understand and see the differences that need to be addressed through X-rays and/or clinically to improve the foundation, bones, or crowding problems at the initial visit.

It should not be a mystery to the participants. If this is clear, parents can determine that the extra money used to initiate and complete the first phase of treatment is not an unnecessary expense, but valuable investment in the child’s beautiful smile in the future.

Cost of braces

The cost of orthodontic treatment varies widely. The total cost (not counting insurance) averages between $3,000 and $7,000. The amount will depend on the condition being treated, the length of treatment, the age of the patient and the type of orthodontics used.

There are some insurance which pays a onetime fee for maximum $1000- $1500 for only basic braces which are even more than the covered amount.

Some clinics offer an alternative to traditional dental insurance. They have policies and plans to save up to 25% of your money on dental treatments. Reach out to Dentist Laguna Niguel at Aria Dental for an affordable dental treatment.

To learn more about orthodontic treatment, please contact us today (949) 364- 9600 and schedule an appointment at Aria Dental in Mission Viejo, California.