When Is The Right Time To Get Braces?

Dear Patients, 

We know, as parents, there are so many health-related questions you ask yourself when caring for your children. One of the questions that parents find themselves asking is, when should my child get braces? Patients with orthodontic problems can benefit from treatment at nearly any age, however, an ideal time for placement of braces is between 10 and 14 years old, while the head and mouth are still growing and teeth are more conducive to straightening.

 

 

 

How long will your child have to wear them?

This depends upon your child’s treatment plan. The more complicated your child’s spacing or bite problem is, and the older you are, the longer it could take for treatment. Most patients can count on wearing full braces between 18 and 30 months, followed by wearing a retainer to make sure the set and align of tissues surrounding the straightened teeth.

 

Will Treatment Be Uncomfortable?

Your child may feel mild pressure when the interconnecting wires are tightened at each visit, as well as your child’s jaw feeling slightly sore after each visit,  but the discomfort is brief.

 

How Old Is Too Old?

In most cases, no age is too old for braces, if the patient’s gums and teeth are healthy. In fact, older patients have more of a need for braces now than they may have before.

Braces can have a great impact on your child’s life. Braces can help improve your child’s self-esteem. Early Correction can have an effect on jaw development throughout critical years, which results in better facial development, fewer speech defects, and improvement in your child’s appearance. Straight teeth are easier to keep clean compared to crowded, crooked, teeth.

 

Is Invisalign ®, right for your child? 

Your Dentist will design a series of smooth, plastic, unnoticeable aligner trays that have been custom designed for you and only you. You simply wear each tray in succession, for approximately two weeks, as prescribed.  Then you begin wearing the next successive tray. The trays are clear and can be removed for meals and for brushing. No one will even notice that your teeth are shifting and realigning as you go about your normal activities. 

Imagine – no metal brackets, no wires, no need for frequent dental visits to tighten your braces!  You can attend social events with confidence while improving your appearance. 

The trays can be removed, which allows for favorite foods to be eaten, unlike traditional braces which can break if something too hard or chewy is eaten. The smooth plastic trays are much more comfortable than protruding wires and metal brackets.  Another added benefit – teeth can be frequently and more thoroughly cleaned and flossed lessening the chance of dental and gum disease. One of the biggest challenges of having traditional braces is removing all the food that gets trapped in the brackets and wires. This can often lead to plaque buildup and eventually tooth decay.

 

Benefits of Invisalign vs. Braces

 

Invisalign:

  • Looks Better – The biggest benefit of Invisalign is that the retainers are invisible. With Invisalign, you don’t go through a period of people commenting on your new braces. You won’t have to be worried about your smile in photos – all you will see in photos is the progress of your improving smile.
  • Comfortable to Wear – You may be wondering “are braces or Invisalign more painful?” Moving teeth around with Invisalign can be uncomfortable and painful, much like traditional braces. However, there are also fewer mouth and gum problems with Invisalign. Invisalign is made special for each person who wears it, so it is most comfortable for you.

Braces:

  • Suitable for All Treatments – With braces, it doesn’t matter how difficult your case is.  Braces use anchors and an archwire to pull the teeth into place. They are the most powerful treatment method in moving teeth into a specific position.
  • Possible to Achieve a Perfect Result – Braces can achieve a better result than Invisalign. Braces have more force to move teeth into a specific position. Invisalign is limited in terms of how much teeth can be moved at a time.

 

Your Dentist, 

Dr. Minichetti

 

Schedule your child’s checkup today! Call us at 201-871-3556 or click here to connect with us online


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