There was a time when dental braces were largely associated with children’s teeth. Over the last decade or so though, this treatment has been more widely used by adults who want to have a straight and even smile. This usage has been accelerated by the advent of almost invisible dental braces such as Invisalign. Children, of course, have continued to receive teeth straightening treatment, often using orthodox dental braces. Now though, children can also benefit from this discreet way of achieving a straighter smile.
While adults often want to achieve a straighter and more even smile for aesthetic reasons; perhaps to help them when socialising etc, it is also important for children to have even teeth too. This is especially important as they enter their teens and start to become more aware of their appearance. We have all seen in the news, the mental health challenges for the younger generations, and having crooked teeth will probably only add to this, with bullying and name calling still continuing to this day, despite efforts to eliminate it.
There are also practical reasons why young patients of our Witham dental clinic should consider having their teeth straightened and we will take a look at some of those now.
This is not entirely uncommon in children and can lead to problems such as decay and gum disease. This is largely because crooked and overlapping teeth can be more difficult to keep clean and can allow bacteria to cause damage to both teeth and gums.
This is another name for a bad or uneven bite, where the teeth don’t meet the opposing teeth as they should. This can cause wearing away of the tooth enamel and may also cause chipping or even, in more extreme cases, breakages, of the tooth. In some cases, it may cause discomfort in the jaw area and may also affect speech as well.
In a small number of cases, crooked teeth can cause issues not only with speech but may also lead to mouth breathing, and even potentially sleep apnea.
Teeth can become crooked for a number of reasons and some of these start in childhood. These include:
Whatever the reason for your child’s crooked teeth though, Invisalign for children may just be the answer that you are looking for.
Few children will be happy with the idea of wearing traditional dental braces. These are usually made from metals that are very visible and they can also be a little uncomfortable, at least initially as they become used to them. These ‘old school’ dental braces also use wiring which can cause food to become trapped and may, in some instances, lead to problems like tooth decay.
If instead, your child takes advantage of the discrete Invisalign orthodontics that we offer at Blake Dental, they can avoid the aesthetic issues as well as having healthier teeth.
This method uses a series of transparent trays that are made from a medical grade plastic. Your child will be given a series of these, each of which will be worn for a short period of time before being replaced with the next in the series. Each tray gently encourages the teeth towards their desired position, until, when you have finished wearing the final tray, their teeth will be nice and even.
Because the trays are removable when they are eating, your child doesn’t need to suffer the embarrassment of food getting stuck in their teeth during lunchtime at school or college. They can also remove the trays in order to clean their teeth, helping them to remain healthy, before putting them back in again. This is simple to do and our dentist will demonstrate how when the trays have been produced and arrive back at our local dental practice.
Another advantage of the Invisalign system is that, unlike traditional braces where you need to visit the dentist each time they need adjusting, you won’t have to do this as the progressive trays take care of this for you. We will, however, still monitor you during the treatment process to ensure that things are progressing as they should.
You might also wish to consider having your own teeth straightened too? It might even encourage your child to have theirs straightened if you need to have yours done at the same time. Invisalign orthodontics are suitable for both adults and children and we are happy to arrange an initial consultation for all ages.
If you would like to discuss having your teeth straightened with one of the dentists at our Witham dental practice, you can call our friendly team today on 01376 501688.
