Parents Pay great attention to orthodontics with a common wish that their children will possess a set of beautiful teeth and a radiant smile. What is orthodontics? What the best age for undergoing it? How long will it take? What’s the matters needing attention? Today we are going to answer all these questions for parents.

What is orthodontics?

During the growing process of children, there exist some congenital and acquired factors that will cause the deformity of teeth, jaw bone and craniofacial bone, thereby resulting in the abnormal occlusion. Orthodontics is a method to restore the normal occlusion by exerting mechanical forces on teeth with appliances like stainless steel bracket and ceramic bracket.

The best age for children to undergo orthodontics

As for different types of deformity, the best timing for orthodontics is different. In general, the common maxillofacial deformity of children can be divided into two types clinically. One is deformity in tooth, while the other one is deformity in bone. What’s more, deformity in tooth includes general deformity and functional deformity. When Orthodontics is carried out for children, doctors will the inform parents the best timing according to their deformity type.

At the age of 12 or 13: As for general deformity in tooth, the best timing for orthodontics is early permanent dentition, namely at the age of 12 to 13. Because this is the time that children permanent dentition and experiences the golden stage of physical maturity.

At the age of 6-12: The functional deformity usually occurs during the mixed dentition period, and it may progresses into deformity in bone if putting off restorative treatment. Therefore, its best timing for orthodontics is the mixed dentition period, namely at the age of 6 to 12.

At the age of 10-13: In the case of deformity in bone, orthodontics is supposed to be conducted in the early golden stage of children’s physical growth, namely at the age of 10 to 12 for girls and of 11-13 for boys.

Before age of 3: The common deformity is CL III Occlusion which exerts a serious influence on the development of maxilla for children. The orthodontics should be conducted the moment the deformity occurs. The youngest age for orthodontics can be around three and half a years old. It usually takes 3 to 6 months to correct the anterior upper tooth which grows in the mesial side of mandibular teeth.

How long will it take for children to undergo orthodontics

The duration for orthodontics depends on the severity of deformity. Only the upper or lower row of teeth needs correcting if the children’s teeth condition is quite good, which accordingly shorten the time duration. With a more complicated teeth condition, the duration for orthodontics will be prolonged correspondingly. Roughly half of a year is enough to correct the teeth for those children whose teeth drift faster, while for those whose teeth grows rather firm, the required duration will be 1 to 1.5 years. 

The matters needing attention for children to undergo orthodontics.

Before undergoing orthodontics, children need to take a detailed checkup in a professional dental institution, taking an X-Ray and attaining an analytical model included. Only after a comprehensive analysis of the situation, can doctors work out a correct diagnosis and treatment plan. Treatment to the general malocclusion requires one to two years, then comes the retention period.

1.       Oral hygiene

Inevitably it will influence the dinning process after wearing braces on. There will be much food debris trapped between teeth after having meal. Therefore, more attention should be paid to oral hygiene. Brush teeth carefully after a meal, better with a dedicated toothbrush.

2.       Diet

During the process of orthodontics, children’s diet requires much concern as well. It’d better to eat some soft food instead of tough one. The tough food like bones, nuts and fried food, will have a bad influence on the appliance and thus should be removed from the list to eat.  

3.       After undergoing orthodontics

It’d better wear the appliance for some time after completing the correction, otherwise it is possible to have a rebounding result. At the same time, parents should ask children to pay more attention to their teeth protection.

In general, the moment parents found that their children’s teeth grow irregularly, they should take them to a professional stomatological hospital for consultation and examination. Besides, they should pay more attention to children’s oral hygiene. They should correct the bad occlusal habits of children in time and reinforce training for chewing function of teeth, in order to help children achieve one set of healthy and beautiful teeth.