You will be surprised how early orthodontic treatment, including teeth straightening, can solve childhood dental problems. Crooked teeth, overcrowding, and tooth decay are some of the issues children face early in life. These days, parents have finally realized the importance of proper dental health. They know how it can affect the kids’ well-being.
Teeth straightening is done on people with malocclusion. This is a condition wherein either the upper or lower jaw is more prominent. Kids with crooked, overcrowded, and overlapping teeth also need braces. This orthodontic treatment is the most popular out of all methods done by a pediatric dentist. However, misaligned teeth are not the only reason kids need early orthodontic treatment.
Early orthodontic treatment is the dental care for kids younger than 7 years old. It is also called early interceptive treatment. The procedure consists of using orthodontic appliances to correct dental problems. It has to be done before all permanent teeth appear. Of course, adults can still fix many dental problems. However, it is more challenging to do because of the more permanent structure of the jaw.
Early intervention is done to develop underlying bones. These are the same bones that support the teeth. They also provide adequate space for the permanent teeth to grow. These procedures should be done early in the kids’ lives when their bones and jaws are still flexible. As such, that gives the kids more time to adjust to the orthodontic appliances attached to the teeth.
Straight teeth are easier to clean and floss than uneven and crooked teeth. With the latter, kids will have a harder time maintaining good dental hygiene. After all, crooked teeth allow bacteria to hide between the teeth. Parents need to make sure that the kids have straight teeth to clean hard-to-reach areas. Teeth straightening will not only prevent severe problems in adulthood. It will also reduce the chances of simple tooth decay.
Teeth problems can also cause difficulty in speaking. When the jaws are not properly aligned, that will cause the kids to have speech difficulties. The most common speech problems are lisping and mispronouncing certain letters such as “S” and “T”. To ensure that these would not be a problem into adulthood, kids can start wearing braces to align their teeth and jaws.
Kids are not usually aware of teeth grinding since many do it at night. An unaligned jaw likely causes this condition. However, it affects more than the structure of the jaw and the development of the teeth. Teeth grinding can also cause headaches and neck pain. Teeth straightening, or the use of elastics and braces, will help shift the jaw back to its place. It will also reduce discomfort.
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There should be no room for error regarding your kids’ teeth. Remember that your kids will bring this set of pearly whites until they are old enough to build their careers. You have to start teaching them proper dental hygiene. Your kids also need appropriate dental intervention early in life to support any knowledge about the appropriate regimen.
Request an appointment or call Precision Orthodontics & Pediatric Dentistry at 703-391-8800 for an appointment in our Reston office.
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