Does your child need braces for their teeth? Why might a parent want to have their child get braces?
Not everyone has great looking teeth. There can be all sorts of things going on in a young person’s mouth right before, during and after puberty. The teeth one gets for their adult life? Well, they can come in crooked, crowded, with gaps, etc.
Close the Gaps
If and when a child has gaps between permanent teeth, braces will help close such gaps. By doing so, this improves the child’s smile and overall oral health. With gaps, plaque can gather and harden into tartar which can lead to gingivitis and periodontitis. Gaps can also lead to bad breath. So it makes sense for braces to get rid of gaps.
Avoid Crowded Teeth
If teeth are growing at odd angles, sometimes a kid will experience crowded teeth which makes them develop a lisp and/or have trouble chewing food. Crowded teeth can also cause a child to have an overbite or underbite. It’s best to move teeth into better positions with braces than leaving them “crowded” for life.
Fix Overbites or Underbites
As for underbites and overbites– underbite is when a child’s bottom teeth protrude further than the limit of their upper teeth and overbite is when a child’s top teeth extend further than their bottom teeth. With these kinds of bites, the jaw can be misaligned making chewing more difficult– and it can also cause other kids to tease your child. That said, these bites can be corrected thanks to braces.
Typically, children wear braces for one to three years. Some kids get them as young as age 7, but generally braces are seen on children between 9 and 16 or so.
Do you want a dentist to take a look and see if your child needs braces? Make an appointment at Genesee Dental by calling 585-343-1113.