One of the primary challenges for parents is dealing with their children’s dental abnormalities. Some children naturally have crooked, overlapping, or crowded teeth. Children’s orthodontics is one of the best methods to correct these issues, and in this article from Dr. Bonyanian’s dental clinic, we intend to explore it in full detail. So, please stay with us until the end of this article.
Dental and jaw abnormalities in adolescents are among the most common problems that can negatively affect their oral health, self-confidence, and appearance. However, these abnormalities are not a cause for concern, as you can use a method like children’s orthodontics to permanently get rid of your child’s misaligned teeth.
What is Children’s Orthodontics?
Children’s orthodontics is one of the effective therapeutic methods for correcting dental and jaw abnormalities. In this method, using orthodontic appliances, the individual’s teeth are guided to their correct position.
What is Meant by “Braces” for Children’s Teeth?
In the past, many people used the term “wiring” instead of “orthodontics.” This is because orthodontics uses special wires and continuous pressure to move teeth back to their original place. For this reason, many people still refer to the process of orthodontic treatment as “braces” or “wiring.”
Specialist in Children’s Orthodontics
A dentist who, after completing a general dentistry doctorate, enters a specialized course in the field of orthodontics is called an orthodontist. However, there is no specialty specifically titled “Pediatric Orthodontist.” Therefore, the reputation of some dentists for performing this procedure on children is solely due to their experience and skill in performing orthodontics for children, not a different scientific knowledge.
Specialist Orthodontist for Children in Tehran
Dr. Bonyanian’s dental clinic, with the presence of the most skilled and experienced orthodontists in Tehran, performs the children’s orthodontic process for you in a precise and professional manner.
The specialists at our clinic, with years of experience in children’s orthodontics, using the best methods and a child-friendly, cheerful environment, are ready to provide orthodontic services and correct the dental and jaw abnormalities of your beloved children.
Our team, throughout all these years, with a commitment to the health of every single patient (especially children), has developed a specialized and tailored treatment plan for each individual and has been with you from the first session until the end of the work.
Benefits of Children’s Orthodontics at Dr. Bonyanian’s Dental Clinic:
- Presence of experienced and specialized orthodontists.
- Use of high-quality orthodontic equipment.
- Satisfactory results.
- Affordable prices and the option of installment payments.
You can benefit from our orthodontic services for your children by calling 00982188539720 or by visiting our clinic, located at Unit 7, No. 22, West 6th St., Ahmad Ghasir (Bokharest) St., Argentina Sq., Tehran.
The Best Time for Children’s Orthodontics
The best age to perform children’s orthodontics is between 9 and 11 years old. The orthodontists at Dr. Bonyanian’s dental clinic consider age 9 suitable for girls and age 11 suitable for boys.
At this age, the growth of the jaws is not yet complete. Therefore, the pressure applied by the orthodontic appliances can more easily move the children’s teeth back to their original place. Additionally, due to the child’s lack of presence in larger social settings like university or the workplace, the appearance of the teeth will be more acceptable to them.
However, it is best to introduce your child to a dentist from the age of 2 (when baby teeth erupt) and have annual check-ups. This way, the need for orthodontic treatment can be identified sooner.
It is also worth noting here that in cases of infection or decay in baby teeth, the possibility of a root canal for a child’s baby tooth exists and is even necessary in some situations.
Candidates for Children’s Orthodontics
Some children with specific conditions are required to undergo orthodontic treatment. These conditions include the following:
- Protruding lower front teeth (underbite).
- Receding upper front teeth.
- Significant overlapping of the front teeth.
- Large gaps between teeth.
- Crooked teeth.
- A missing tooth in the dental arch.
- An extra tooth in the dental arch.
Some of these abnormalities are genetically transferred to children. This means that if the father or mother has dental abnormalities, the likelihood of these abnormalities appearing in their child is also high.
How Long Does Children’s Orthodontic Treatment Take?
The duration of a child’s orthodontic treatment depends on various factors such as the skill of the orthodontist, the child’s age, the severity of the dental abnormalities, and the child’s cooperation in observing oral and dental hygiene.
However, the duration of orthodontic treatment varies from 6 to 36 months (generally one and a half years). For example, fixed orthodontics is faster (6 to 12 months) and lingual orthodontics is slower (up to 36 months).
Benefits of Performing Children’s Orthodontics
Orthodontics for children and adolescents has numerous benefits, among which we can mention the following:
- Improved Oral Health: Dental and jaw abnormalities cause the accumulation of plaque and tartar, tooth decay, gum disease, and damage to the jaw joint. However, orthodontics, by correcting the condition of the teeth and jaws, significantly reduces the risk of these problems.
- Improved Chewing Function: Dental and jaw abnormalities can cause disturbances in children’s chewing function. This disorder also leads to improper digestion of food, stomach aches, and improper growth of the child. Orthodontics, by treating this problem, improves the chewing function in children.
- Improved Appearance of Teeth and Face: One of the biggest drawbacks of crooked teeth is their negative impact on the child’s facial appearance. Children with severe dental abnormalities have a different appearance in the lower half of their face (compared to other children). Fortunately, orthodontics, by correcting this problem, restores beauty to the children’s faces.
- Increased Self-Confidence: Childhood is the golden period for shaping your children’s self-confidence. Crooked teeth, by reducing the child’s self-confidence in speaking, smiling, and being present at school, will take this opportunity away from them. One of the very important benefits of orthodontics is restoring self-confidence to your beloved child.
- Reduced Orthodontic Costs: The sooner you proceed with your child’s orthodontic treatment and at a younger age, the lower the costs you will incur. This is because children’s orthodontics does not have the difficulties and complexities of adult orthodontics.
- Shorter Treatment Duration: If you start your child’s orthodontic treatment earlier, both the duration of your child’s treatment and the number of visits and the difficulty of the orthodontics will be reduced.
Disadvantages of Children’s Orthodontics
Despite its many benefits, children’s orthodontics also has some disadvantages. Some of the disadvantages of children’s orthodontics include:
- Oral Hygiene Problems: Braces and orthodontic brackets require maintenance and cleaning. Therefore, your child must be more careful in observing their oral and dental hygiene. This issue can be challenging for some parents and their children.
- Being Painful: In some cases, orthodontic appliances can be painful. It may be difficult for the child to tolerate this pain.
- Lack of Cooperation from the Child: The child’s cooperation in following the orthodontist’s instructions is essential for the success of the orthodontic treatment. If your child does not cooperate as needed, the orthodontic treatment may fail.
Does Children’s Orthodontics Hurt?
Perhaps “pain” is not the right word to describe the state of children after their orthodontic treatment. This is because the orthodontic process is not a painful one. However, the presence of orthodontic appliances in the child’s mouth will cause them discomfort and irritation for a few days, but this issue will resolve over time.
How Do I Prepare My Child for Orthodontics?
Preparing a child before facing the process that is about to begin on their teeth is very important. Part of this preparation process is the responsibility of the parents, and another part is the responsibility of the specialist dentist who they are supposed to visit.
To prepare your child for orthodontics, use the following strategies:
- Talk to your child about orthodontics. Explain to them what orthodontics is and why it is beneficial for them.
- Show your child before and after pictures of orthodontic treatment to draw their attention to the beauty and neatness of teeth after completing the treatment.
- Help your child to research orthodontics. You can use educational books or videos about orthodontics.
- Take the child to the dentist in a separate session and familiarize them with the environment, staff, and dentist.
- Talk to your child about the importance of cooperation during orthodontic treatment. Explain to them that they need to be more careful with their oral hygiene and must follow the orthodontist’s instructions carefully.
- Explain to your child that they may feel some discomfort during the treatment period. Tell them that this discomfort is usually mild, goes away with time, and is worth the value of their dental health.
Cost of Children’s Orthodontics
As we mentioned above, one of the main advantages of children’s orthodontics is its lower cost compared to adult orthodontics. This cost depends on various factors such as the duration of treatment, the severity of the misaligned teeth, and the dentist’s specialty (type of specialty).
Despite the difficulty of estimating this cost, in our article on the price of orthodontics, we have calculated an approximate orthodontic fee schedule for you.
6 Tips for Caring for Children’s Orthodontics
- Maintaining a healthy diet is essential during children’s orthodontic treatment. Try to make your children aware that they should avoid consuming sticky and hard foods like candy, gum, and sticky sweets.
- Consuming sugary and acidic substances can also damage the teeth and orthodontic appliances of your children. We recommend using soft and easy-to-chew foods.
- Take your child to the dentist at the scheduled intervals. These sessions are set to adjust the pressure of the orthodontic appliance. Therefore, they are very important for the final outcome of the orthodontics.
- Maintaining oral and dental hygiene for children is crucial during this period. Clean the teeth, wires, and other parts of the appliance carefully and with special hygiene products.
- Do not forget to use dental floss and special orthodontic toothbrushes.
- By making your child aware, control harmful habits such as touching the orthodontic parts or cracking nuts with their teeth.
Final Conclusion
The subject of children’s orthodontics is of such great importance that postponing it is by no means permissible. This is because the health, self-confidence, and beauty of your child’s teeth depend entirely on it.
If your child is dealing with jaw and dental abnormalities, it is best to take them to a specialist orthodontist as soon as possible so that a suitable treatment plan can be developed and implemented for them according to their condition.
Dr. Nazi Bonyanian
Dental Surgeon (DDS) — Medical Council Number: 138662
Graduate of Isfahan University of Medical Sciences with over 15 years of experience in implants, laminates, and oral and dental surgery.
Address: No. 22, Unit 7, West Alley 6, Bokharest Street, Argentina Sq., Tehran, Iran
Phone: +98-21-88539720 | WhatsApp: +98-912-514-2202
Email: info@drbonyanian.com
Working Hours: Sat–Wed 09:00–20:00 | Thu 09:00–14:00 | Friday Closed
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