What to Expect When Visiting a Child Orthodontist to Get Braces?
While most people choose to get dental braces for cosmetic purposes, many people still need them to treat health conditions such as crooked or misaligned teeth. They serve the purpose of straightening out your tooth and jaws, which improves your dental hygiene, speech, and overall well-being.
When taking your child to a child orthodontist for braces, this is what you can expect:
A Physical Assessment
They will first assess your child’s oral health using X-rays and examinations. If this is the first time your child visits an orthodontist, they will ask you a few questions about their medical history and dental history.
To see whether braces can effectively fix their condition or not, they will also take X-rays of your child’s teeth. Based on the images, they will be able to assess whether there is enough space for their teeth to align correctly or not.
Their jaws will also need to grow reasonably to accommodate the braces.
A Consultation and Planning Meeting
Once they have taken all the necessary measurements, they will create a treatment plan. The kinds of braces the dentist will use and how long it will take to adjust them will depend on your child’s condition and age.
The experts may use an expander if there is not enough space in their mouth to accommodate their teeth. During the consultation, they will also inform you about any risks or complications in getting braces.
For instance, they will let you know if your child may have to have general anesthesia during procedures in case your child’s dentist needs it in the future.
Learn About The Cost of Treatment
Your child orthodontist will also tell you about the cost of their treatment plans. However, it’s vital to prioritize the quality of dental care over cost when looking for an orthodontist for your child.
In some cases, your health insurance company may cover the total cost of braces for your child, especially if there is a pre-existing condition. They can check this with them since it will save you money in the long run.
Learn About the Different Types of Braces
There are different braces for children depending on their case and how the dentist can fix it. They include:
- Traditional Metal Braces -These usually work in cases where there is a need to correct overbites, underbites, and crossbites.
- Invisalign -Invisalign is a series of clear braces that go on your child’s teeth without being noticeable to other people. Clear braces are only available in some orthodontic offices, and it is an ideal choice if your child is very conscious about their looks.
- Clear Braces -These are a method to straighten out your child’s teeth and the arch form with the use of brackets and wires. They make less noise than metal braces and do not stain easily because of their apparent color.
After the consultation, they will also give you estimates on how much time it will take for your child’s braces to correct their problems fully. Of course, the length of time needed for it to work will depend on the severity of your child’s condition and how well they cooperate with their orthodontist.