Everyone wants their child to be successful in life and an orthodontist might be part of the plan. Here are some things to think about.
An orthodontist is a dental practitioner who straightens a person’s teeth. Sometimes this is done during childhood and other times it is achieved during adulthood. If a child has a crooked smile,
an over-bite, an under-bit, or any other such flaw, it can profoundly affect their self-esteem. It is proven that how a person feels about themselves will have a huge impact on their future.
If an individual is embarrassed about their crooked teeth, they are more likely to hide them by covering their mouth with their hand or keeping their lips sealed. This can mean that their social lives are diminished; others react unfavorably to them; or they may be perceived as standoffish or anti-social. Having a lovely set of pearly whites is part of the recipe for optimum success. Does your child need orthodontia in order to remedy his or her dental alignment? Here are some things to think about:
- Early check-ups are best: In the olden days, it was common to wait till a growing child was in their teens before making an appointment with the orthodontist. This has changed and it is now recommended that kids around age 7 first see the doc.
- Creating space: An earlier intervention will allow the doc to create space for each emerging tooth. This allows relief from overcrowding and misalignment before it happens.
- Jaw bone growth: Stepping in earlier allows the orthodontist to influence jaw bone growth in order to impact the facial appearance. Prevention is worth a pound of cure.
- Actual time in braces reduced: If steps are taken during an earlier phase of childhood, the time that the individual spends wearing brace apparatuses will be reduced. Isn’t that good news?
- Fewer tooth pulls: Sometimes a tooth must be pulled during a course of orthodontia. The chances of it occurring or number of those removed are decreased with earlier intervention.
- Straight smile affects more than many realize: Not only will a child’s confidence be boosted with a straighter grin but other benefits occur, too. Dental decay, gum disease, worn away enamel and speech impediments can all be reduced with proper orthodontic attention.
- “Tin-Grin” No More: Remember the old silver “metal mouth” apparatuses that every person had to wear to straighten their choppers? Well, times have changed and there are more attractive devices available. Clear, multihued or removable devices have hit the market and taken this arena of dental care to the next level. Adolescents and adults are happy to wear some of the more attractive tools of the orthodontic trade. “Railroad tracks” as a nickname is a relic of the past.
- Adults: Having a bright, white and properly aligned grin can turn an adults’ social and business life around. A person’s smile speaks volumes before they even utter a sound. Having attractive pearly whites is a building block for success.
If a parent has any doubt that their child might need braces, it would be wise to make an appointment for a dental consultation. A reputable orthodontist will be able to answer all of the questions about tooth straightening.
