Braces For Kids: When Should They Start Orthodontic Treatment?

Kids’ teeth are precious. They are sensitive and require extensive care. However, they may get misaligned. If you see your child’s teeth become crooked, overcrowded, or misaligned in any way, they will need an early orthodontic treatment.

This treatment involves getting braces, retainers, or other devices that put your child’s teeth in line. Braces are completely normal. You must have seen a lot of kids wearing them. These transparent or wired devices will align your little one’s teeth and give them a perfect smile.

Are you looking for a child orthodontist in Dubai? If so, you can bring your child to Magnum Clinic for their braces. Our orthodontists use the latest technologies and gadgets to design and place braces on your child's teeth. Whether you want your child to have metal braces or invisible ones, we will design customized braces for your little one.

Rest assured that Magnum Clinic will give your child the safest and most comfortable environment in Dubai for their orthodontic treatment. Contact us if you have any doubts or want to book an early orthodontic appointment.

What Is Early Orthodontic Treatment?

In simple words, early orthodontic treatment is the orthodontic treatment for children. It is given at an early age to correct issues like teeth crowding, crooked teeth, etc.

Early orthodontic treatment also fixes dental problems before they get worse with your child's age. Children's teeth are more malleable than those of adults, making it easy to align them.

If you detect teeth alignment issues earlier, go for an early orthodontic treatment to give your loved one a precious smile. It is best to detect and treat dental issues before your child’s jaws and other facial structures stop growing.

At What Age Should Kids Get Braces?

There is no fixed age at which kids should get braces. Having said that, you shouldn’t hurry with the orthodontic treatment to keep your little one safe.

Generally, parents start taking their kids to orthodontists once they turn seven. This is the age when most (if not all) of your child's temporary teeth have fallen off, and the permanent teeth have grown. Putting on braces before the eruption of permanent teeth makes no sense, as the temporary ones will fall off anyway.

It is safe to say that the best age for braces is between seven and fifteen. However, there is no maximum age for getting an orthodontic treatment. Many adults also wear braces to align their teeth.

If the problem is serious, your orthodontist may also recommend starting the treatment while your child still has baby teeth. Here, professionals use specialized dental appliances on the temporary teeth and put braces on once the permanent teeth show up.

This is rare, though. In most cases, dental professionals conduct treatments only after kids get their permanent teeth.

Common Signs Your Child Needs Braces

If you are a parent, you should always look out for common signs that call for braces. Here are a few common signs your child needs braces:

Early Baby Teeth Loss

Most kids lose their baby teeth before the age of seven or eight. Your child may need an early orthodontic treatment if they lose their temporary teeth sooner than that. Contact trusted dental professionals in your city and take your little one for a checkup if this is the case.

Teeth Gaps

Your child may need braces if there are prominent gaps between their teeth. It is okay for a kid to have these gaps between their temporary teeth. Permanent teeth often fill the gaps left by the temporary ones.

If these gaps are still present after your child gets permanent teeth, they may need braces. Braces will align their little teeth and make them beautiful again!

As a parent, you should seek dental help for your child immediately. If you do not treat teeth gaps, they can harm your little one's dental health.

For example, plaque buildup due to tooth gaps can result in tartar accumulation. Tartar is a hard substance that leads to problems like gingivitis and periodontitis.

Crowded Teeth

If your child's teeth are crowded, they may need braces to align them properly. This situation may arise if permanent teeth do not get enough space to grow. Your child's teeth then grow at strange angles, crowding up the space in their mouth.

Crowded teeth can affect your child’s appearance and lead to other problems like lisps. Your little one may also experience chewing difficulties if their teeth are crowded.

Getting braces can fix this issue. These devices put pressure on your child’s teeth, putting them in a normal position. Braces will also align their teeth and enhance the look of their smiles!

Late Loss Of Baby Teeth

When your child loses their baby teeth too early, they may need an early orthodontic treatment. They may also need this treatment if these teeth fall off too late.

Your child’s permanent teeth will come out misaligned if the baby teeth are lost too late. This often leads to crowded teeth. You should consult a dental professional if your child hasn’t lost all their baby teeth despite being older than seven or eight.

Underbite Problems

Underbite is a dental condition where your child’s lower teeth extend more outward than their upper teeth. This happens when their lower jaw is longer than the upper one.

If your child has underbite issues, their front teeth become exposed to wear and tear. This can chip or break your child's teeth at an early age. Your child may also experience chewing issues due to misaligned jaws. If the underbite is clearly visible, they can get increasingly self-conscious with time.

An early orthodontic treatment and proper braces can resolve underbite issues and align your child’s jaws perfectly.

Overbite Problems

Overbite is the opposite of underbite. It is a condition where your child’s upper jaw extends more than the lower one. This condition is common in kids who also have crowded teeth. If the overbite problems become severe, your child may find it difficult to close their mouth completely. They may also experience breathing difficulties.

When your child gets braces for overbite, their upper teeth are pushed back. At the same time, the lower teeth are pushed forward to attain a perfect balance.

There are different kinds of dental braces for kids. If the overbite is not too severe, your child can get invisible braces. Severe cases call for metal or ceramic braces.

Mouth Breathing

If you see your child frequently breathing from their mouth and they do not have a blocked nose, you should worry about their dental health. When a child breathes a lot from their mouth, it affects their oral structure over time. For example, your child’s jaw can grow to be narrower than usual, leading to problems like crowded teeth, overbite, underbite, etc.

Mouth breathing also exposes your child’s teeth and gums to bacteria, increasing the chances of decay and cavities. Take your little one to a dentist if they are a prominent mouth breather. If you do not take early measures, they may need braces in the future.

Teeth Grinding

if your child has started grinding their teeth at a young age, you can control it by giving them braces. Teeth grinding can have serious implications, such as chipping or breaking of teeth. Children already have sensitive teeth, and you shouldn't risk them if you see them grinding their teeth too often.

Why Is Early Orthodontic Treatment Important?

If you still think it is okay to wait longer before seeking professional help for your child, here is why an early orthodontic treatment is important:

Creating Room

Many orthodontic treatments create enough room in a child’s mouth so that their teeth grow properly. Narrow jaws and premature permanent teeth may lead to overcrowding.

Improving Facial Symmetry

Symmetrical faces are beautiful. Dental problems like overbite, underbite, crowded teeth, teeth gaps, etc., can hamper your child's facial symmetry. Early orthodontic treatment can give them a perfectly symmetrical face and a beautiful smile.

Avoiding Tooth Extraction

If your child receives insufficient dental care, they may resort to tooth extraction after getting older. Visiting an orthodontist early avoids such issues and fixes dental problems before they get worse.

Faster Braces Treatment

Children’s teeth are more malleable. It doesn’t take much for braces to fix them. If your child undergoes early orthodontic treatment, the braces treatment will be significantly faster.

Wrapping Up: Your Child Needs An Early Orthodontic Treatment

If you believe it is better to wait for an orthodontic treatment until your child gets older, you might want to think again. Once your little one gets older than seven, you can get them suitable braces according to their condition. These devices improve your child’s facial symmetry and give them an aesthetic smile.

Magnum Clinic has experienced child orthodontists in Dubai. We diagnose dental problems using technologies like 3D imaging and digital X-rays. Rest assured that your child will receive 100% comfortable braces and a fun environment when they visit us!