Dental Braces for Kids

If the solution to your child’s orthodontic problems is dental brace, the treatment time needed will depend upon the severity of your child’s problem, the health of your child’s teeth, the distance that the child’s teeth will travel as well as space available in your child’s mouth. Average treatment time is from one year to three years.

Children’s dental care after braces is your next priority once the braces are removed. The first thing the orthodontist will do is clean the child’s teeth thoroughly. He most probably will also do bite impressions and take a set of x-rays to determine how well the child’s teeth were straightened by the braces. He will also check if during the duration of the treatment, wisdom tooth came in. If wisdom teeth start to come in after your child’s braces are removed the orthodontist may suggest that it be pulled out to see to it that the recently straightened teeth do not shift position in the child’s mouth.

The next thing that the orthodontist will do is to provide your child with retainers. It is a especially made detachable appliance that will help your child’s teeth sustain its new position once the braces are removed. Some other orthodontic problems of your child can also be treated by retainers. Wearing retainers is a vital element in children’s dental care after the braces. Retainers are generally made of clear plastic or rubber with metal wires. It covers the outer surface of the teeth and needs to be worn continually for the first 6 months after the brace removal and then afterwards, only during sleeping time. How long your child will be required to wear retainers will depend on how well the braces have positively affected the teeth. Even when the braces have effectively straightened your child’s teeth, they will need retainers to fully settle the teeth in their new position up to the time the gums, bones and muscles have adjusted to the new position.