Orthodontic treatment to straighten the teeth or correct the bite is now so common that many parents take it for granted. Everyone wants to have perfect teeth, and braces can help you get there.
Does every child need orthodontic treatment?
No, not every child needs orthodontic treatment. However, it would not be unfair to say that most children could use a bit of help to improve their dentition. Cosmetic factors like teeth overcrowding a mouth, gaps between the teeth, or teeth that have erupted in an abnormal position are the most common reasons for seeking our orthodontic treatment.
All of these problems can be corrected with orthodontic treatment — but, there are non-cosmetic reasons to get braces as well.
A general checkup from the orthodontist will be helpful in determining the need for orthodontic treatment.
When is the best time to straighten teeth and correct an improper bite?
This is a difficult question to answer because the ideal time to start orthodontic treatment can be different for different problems. Let us start by saying that there is no bad time to get braces. People in their fourth or fifth decades of life can get orthodontic treatment just as teenagers or pre-teens can.
In most cases where a mild correction of the bite and some straightening of the teeth is required, the best time to start is soon after the eruption of all the permanent teeth. In girls, this age could be around 10 to 13 while boys usually benefit from bracers between the ages of 11 and 14.
There are even some clinical conditions where early orthodontic intervention is very helpful. In cases where significant palatal expansion needs to be achieved, or other skeletal deformities need to be managed, the orthodontic treatment may begin as early as seven to eight years of age.
Children suffering from cleft lip and cleft palate may need to undergo orthodontic treatment at different stages of their lives. Children as young as two or three years of age are treated and then another phase of treatment may be carried out later in life.
How long does orthodontic treatment usually last?
This is another question where the answer varies with the severity of the initial problem. The ballpark range for most orthodontic treatment cases is between 12 and 24 months. Closing gaps between the teeth is relatively quick while correcting crowded dentitions can take longer.
Patients who have to undergo extractions end up wearing braces for longer on average than people whose treatment can be carried out without the use of extractions.
All orthodontic treatment also has a period of stabilization which is carried out by the use of retainers. These can be temporary retainers used for a few months or permanent retainers that are used for years or even a person's entire life.
Is orthodontic treatment painful?
Pain is always at the back of everyone’s mind when they come to the dentist. For people who have children or are themselves getting ready to undergo orthodontic treatment, we have some good news.
Orthodontic movement applies pressure on the teeth to slowly move them through bone. This amount of force can cause a bit of discomfort, usually right after the orthodontist has changed the wire or increased the amount of force. A simple over the counter pain killer is enough to help patients get over this period as well. The discomfort vanishes a few days after the force has been increased as the body begins to adjust to it.
Can you eat everything with braces?
Even dentists are not sadistic enough to want to keep you hungry for a year or more, so yes — patients can eat freely with braces on. There are a few common-sense restrictions. Food that is too sticky like caramel-rich food, chewing gum, or food that is too hard and can damage the braces should be avoided.
As a general rule, patients are advised to cut whatever they eat into small pieces instead of biting into it, like an apple or a cookie. Patients should also avoid anything that can get stuck in between the braces and cause them pain.
Apart from that, though, there are no real restrictions on eating and people are able to eat normally very soon after getting braces.
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