Parent’s Guide to Orthodontic Treatments for Kids and Teens

Orthodontic treatment for kids and teens benefits children for a variety of reasons. If you are considering seeking orthodontic treatment for your child or teenager, knowing the benefits of orthodontics may help you make an informed decision.Orthodontic Treatment: Benefits For Kids And TeensOrthodontics are the application of treatments designed to correct or prevent irregularities of the teeth. Orthodontics can be sought out to help correct chewing and bite problems, speech problems, eliminate pain, or to correct unsightly misaligned teeth. The restoration of a beautifully aligned, straight smile is often the key reason parents seek out an orthodontic consultation.Orthodontics benefit children and teens by:1. Fixing teeth overcrowding issues by widening the palate, or correcting underbites and overbites.2. Treating painful issues like Temporomandibular Joint Disorder (TMJ).3. Enhancements to a child’s self esteem can be achieved by fixing issues like missing or crooked teeth, closing gaps, and more.4. When teeth are properly aligned through orthodontics, care for them can be achieved much easier.5. Having braces and orthodontic appliances teaches children the significance of good dental care and enables them to take responsibility for the success of orthodontic treatments by participating in the daily care and protection of orthodontics and teeth fitted with braces.Orthodontics for kids and teens have many benefits. If you are considering getting orthodontics for your child, consider scheduling a consultation with an orthodontist to discuss the details of how orthodontics work and the requirements of both parents and children during the treatment.Braces today have evolved from the bulky, metal braces from 15 years ago. Parents can decide on ceramic brackets, smaller brackets, or even Invisialign clear trays instead of traditional braces. An orthodontist can review all the options available for your child and outline the advantages and disadvantages of each option.Orthodontic treatments generally last from between one to three years and most kids do very well with complying with the orthodontist’s instructions and caring for appliances and braces. The numerous benefits of orthodontics for kids and teens make it easy for many parents to make the decision to invest in their child’s smile.