What Are the Benefits of Early Orthodontic Treatment?
While it’s true that people of all ages can benefit from orthodontic treatment, kids who see an orthodontist while they’re still young can enjoy a number of different benefits – essentially all at the same time.
For starters, at an early age your child’s jaw is still developing – which means that even though issues like crowded teeth or an overbite may have already started to develop, they’ll be far easier to correct.
Likewise, most kids will enjoy an immediate boost to their self-esteem when they can finally enjoy the beautiful smile they’ve always seen for themselves. This is an experience you want your child to have as soon as possible.
What Age Should My Child Start Orthodontic Treatment?
This is a question that is somewhat difficult to answer because there is no “one size fits all” approach to orthodontic care. Every child is a bit different than the next, which means they all develop at different rates and in different ways.
Having said that, most people wait to take their child to see the orthodontist for the first time until their adult teeth begin to come in – which usually happens around the age of seven. At that point, your orthodontist will have a lot of actionable information to work with regarding what types of issues the child may face and how to best mitigate them moving forward.
Is My Child a Candidate for Braces?
In the vast majority of all situations, most children will be ideal candidates for braces – especially if they go to the orthodontist early on in their lives and begin treatment at an ideal stage. But don’t worry – even if your child isn’t, there are several options that you can explore and Dr. Dressler will go over each option with you.
Will Braces Impact My Child’s Lifestyle?
Braces shouldn’t have any type of appreciable impact on your child’s lifestyle. Having said that, there are some foods you’ll want to make sure they avoid for the duration of their treatment.
These include any foods that are particularly sticky or hard, and a lot of candies that your child loves will probably fall under that category. Likewise, you’ll want to have them avoid any food that is particularly chewy like pizza crust. Avoid anything that could potentially damage the braces themselves, which would delay treatment in a way both you and the child would certainly like to avoid.
What Is the Cost of Braces?
The cost will depend on the patient in question. Certain types of dental issues simply take longer periods than others, and the longer treatment goes on for the more you can expect to pay.
Having said that, most people pay between $3000 and $8000 in the United States for braces on average. Dr. Dressler will go over this with you, too, all so that you can have the complete confidence that comes with knowing you’re spending your money on something that is every bit as effective as you need it to be.
How Do Braces Work?
When treatment begins, a series of brackets will be attached to each tooth in your child’s mouth – both on the top row and the bottom. Then, a metal wire will be affixed to the brackets, connecting them all. The strength of that wire – which will be strategically adjusted over time – is what gently shifts the teeth into their desired position over many months.
If your child has bite-related issues that he or she is also undergoing treatment for, a series of additional bands may be used to help the jaw “settle” into its ideal position. Additional adjustments may be necessary depending on the severity of the issues. Dr. Dressler will be able to go over all of this with you in more detail during your initial consultation, once he knows more about your child and the way their mouth is currently developing.
Types of Braces
There are a few different types of braces for you to choose from depending on your needs. At Dressler Orthodontics, these include:
Regular Metal Brackets
As stated, a series of metal brackets on each one of your teeth are then connected via a metal wire. As the strength of that wire is adjusted, the teeth move into their desired position – by the end of treatment, you finally have that smile you’ve always wanted for yourself.
Ceramic Brackets
Ceramic brackets are very similar in concept to regular metal brackets, but they use a ceramic material (hence the name) that is much more comfortable for many people. As a bonus, because the color of the brackets closely matches that of your natural teeth, they’re far more discreet as well.
The Dressler Difference
From the moment we opened Dressler Orthodontics until now, we’ve always valued one thing above all others: your time. We know that you lead a busy life, which is why we’re proud to offer virtual appointments for our patients to better meet their needs and their schedules.
Dr. Dressler and his team regularly text with patients to help answer questions and provide care, all without the need for an in-office appointment. Dr. Dressler does on average 40% fewer in-office visits than his competitors when it comes to patients with braces.
Still, we always put patient convenience first WITHOUT sacrificing the excellent care you deserve. So if you’re looking for super convenient and affordable high-quality care, we’re proud to be able to say that you’ve come to the right place.