Getting braces might not be something that a teenager looks forward to. In fact, a fair share of parents admitted meeting with sighs, eye rolls, and silence at even a casual discussion about the word.
However, knowing exactly when to interact with an orthodontist can save your child from a wide range of dental complications down the road. Now how to tell if someone needs braces? And also what kind of braces is currently available in the market? To know, please check out the given discussion.
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Common Orthodontic Problems
There are a few problems that the orthodontists specify prior to recommending braces. Spacing and crowding are the top ones among the lot. If your child’s teeth lack the necessary space for erupting, they have a chance of having crooked teeth. Again if a child’s teeth are smaller than the usual or if a child has an abnormally huge dental arch, there will too much space in between the teeth.
Some more worth-mentioning problems are:
- Overbite–This occurs when the upper teeth encompass the lower ones.
- Underbite–This occurs when the lower jaw grows past the upper one, causing the lower teeth to sit on top of the upper ones.
- Crossbite–This occurs when the upper teeth go behind the lower one, preventing the jaw from developing properly.
Other Major Signs
Besides the orthodontic problems above, there may be other subtle signs to look out for:
- Loss of the baby teeth was not regular.
- Biting the cheeks or roof of the mouth frequently.
- Spending a lot of time in front of the bathroom mirror to set the teeth right. This further causes anxiety and isolation.
- Difficulty in chewing, biting, and speaking properly.
The Popular Braces
- Metal or traditional braces have two distinct components – the bracket attached to the teeth and the bendable wire that runs through the bracket to inflict pressure on the teeth and move them. This is the least pricey version and perfect for moving teeth into their desired position quickly.
- Ceramic braces work in the same way as metal braces. But, it has gained much more recognition because the bracket is made of ceramics, which has the same texture and color as the teeth, so they are hardly noticeable.
- Self-litigating braces make use of brackets with doors or clips that hold onto the wire rather than the usual rubber band system. They are less painful, and the food particles do not stick to them.
- Invisalign is not perfect for everyone, but such braces do provide multiple benefits, including the capacity to eliminate the need to clean the teeth and the aligners in the future. They are not visible and much more comfortable than the metal braces.
Braces may appear annoying, but if you can endure them for a couple of years in high school, you will able to enjoy straight pearly whites for the rest of your life. Although there is a wide range of options, most teenagers said they prefer a fast, CEREC same-day crown.
It saves a substantial amount of money, restores the function of all the teeth right away, and is exceptionally comfortable. Well, make sure to consult your dentist before you opt for this procedure.