A Parent’s Primer on Braces
Braces have helped millions of children have straighter teeth, a properly aligned smile, and better dental health. See if these orthodontic treatments are right for your child.
The Role of an Orthodontist
An orthodontist is a dental specialist who corrects poorly positioned teeth and misaligned jaws with braces or a corrective dental appliance. Orthodontic treatment offers many benefits, including an improved appearance, better dental health, and longer-lasting teeth. Even though braces are typically used on children’s teeth, more and more adults are getting better smiles with orthodontics.
The Time for Treatment
Parents aren’t able to easily tell if their child could benefit from braces or another dental appliance. That’s why the child’s pediatric dentist will usually recommend treatment and refer you to an orthodontist. Children who don’t receive the orthodontic treatment they need have a higher risk of tooth decay, gum disease, tooth loss, TMJ syndrome, headaches, shoulder aches, and back pain.
But only an orthodontist can tell if braces or another corrective appliance are right for your child by performing a full dental exam, taking x-rays, and learning your child’s medical history. In general, orthodontic treatment can help individuals correct any of these dental issues:
- Overbite
- Underbite
- Open bite
- Crossbite
- Overcrowding
- Tooth misalignment
- Poorly spaced teeth
Save Your Child’s Smile
An orthodontist can work wonders to improve a person’s appearance, comfort, dental health, and quality of life. To learn whether braces or another corrective appliance could help your child’s smile, talk to their pediatric dentist to see whether it’s time to see an orthodontist.
