Created 16/12/2023.
Early attention to bite problems, dental crowding, diastema, etc., is essential to prevent a child from growing up to be an adult with dental complications; we are talking about problems such as caries not located at first sight, jaw pains, headaches, tooth wear, etc.
You need to take care of your child and his or her oral health as part of your responsibilities as a parent, so you should not wait until your child is in discomfort to visit your dental clinic. The visit to the dentist must be constant; even from the time the child has the primary dentitionThis will allow us to evaluate if the oral cavity will have the necessary space for the permanent teeth, if there are no early caries problems, if the teeth will appear in a good position, in short; it is highly recommended that your child has a dental medical records so that, from a very young age, he can solve any inconvenience.
At IMOI Barcelona and Ibiza you will find a program specially designed to prevent, diagnose early and treat any dental problem of your child. In the first visit we will perform a Premium Dental Study totally free of charge, in order to prevent any dental problem that may affect you. Our medical staff has more than 20 years of experience in dental treatment for children.
Before we delve further into the topic of orthodontics for children, we want you to keep the following recommendations in mind:
- At the moment of giving a bottle to your child you must clean and disinfect it correctly, because the constant use and accumulation of bacteria can cause a serious problem of infections and premature tooth decay.
- Avoid sweets and candies as much as possible in your child’s diet, or you can even explain to your child that when he/she finishes eating, he/she should brush his/her teeth properly.
- Likewise, try to immediately eliminate the bad habit of constantly putting things in your mouth, as this contributes to change the position of your teeth and to bite problems.
And it is precisely in this last point, where we have to talk about specialized medical care in the correct placement of teeth.
What is orthodontics for children like?
A child who needs orthodontic appliances is diagnosed with a pathology that prevents him/her from having a proper dental placement, that his/her bite is incorrect and that in the long run will have a direct impact on his/her health.
The most recommended orthodontic treatments for children depend largely on the type of problem the patient has, because in some cases, the correction can be done in a more practical and simple way than in other types of processes. Generally, this procedure can be performed without complications after the age of 6, once the upper and lower incisor teeth are perfectly visible and children and adolescents are already aware of its usefulness and can even be asked to cooperate.
Depending on the function they will perform in the child’s mouth, there are different types of orthodontics. We will explain it below.
Removable or first stage orthodontics.
When the child is diagnosed by the IMOI orthodontist with a problem in which it is required to adapt the area of the maxillary bone or needs some bone modification or correction, there are removable appliances for children, also called «removable orthodontics«. During the use of removable orthodontics, children should take special care in the way they use their appliances; in general, it is necessary to make sure that they do not suffer deformities, which are susceptible to occur with use or mishandling. When a child has to wear an orthodontic appliance of this type, he or she is given a series of specifications so that the utmost care is taken in its use. This appliance generally prepares the child’s mouth for future fixed orthodontics.
Fixed orthodontics
Fixed orthodontics is the one where the appliance will obviously be placed on the teeth for a certain period of time without being able to be removed; the classic brackets that we all associate with childhood and adolescence.
Metal brackets are definitely the best options for children: they are resistant, safe, do not cause discomfort and are also a fun option because they can be used with colored bands that the little ones can combine as they wish.
Fixed orthodontics for children using metal brackets is very effective and does not pose a risk to the patient, there are minimal signs of discomfort and allow greater resistance to hard foods (not prescribed in the diet, but which children have access to at school or out of our sight).
If your children have to wear braces, the option of metal brackets will always be the best, according to our recommendations for correcting dental alignment and alignment problems.
Invisible orthodontics
Invisible orthodontics can be used in children, however it is not recommended because it involves a risk in terms of care and maintenance of the appliances. Invisaligns, for example, are prescribed for people over 18 years of age.
Lingual brackets (or brackets that go on the inside of the teeth) work just like metal brackets; however, they can be uncomfortable for children in the first few days of wear. Remember that the mouth is not accustomed to rubbing against appliances, which means that it may produce more sores than usual. They can be used but are not recommended for them.
Invisible orthodontics, we consider that it is mostly focused on people who are looking for the aesthetics of their image, for those adults who for their work or personal reasons do not want their orthodontics to be visible.
If we speak in general terms of both fixed and invisible orthodontics (in the event that a child uses them) the braces do not generate discomfort after 2 or 3 days of wearing them in the mouth. Initially, the clinic will probably prescribe a mild analgesic so that the child has much less discomfort; but in fact, in almost all cases, no analgesic is required.
Your child will be able to run, jump, swim and play like any other child his age, without any worries, although if your child practices contact sports, it may be necessary for him to wear guards to avoid any kind of mishap with his orthodontic appliances.
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This article has been supervised by Dr. Ferran Novell Costa and Dra. Erjona Demiraj, specialists in Dental Health and Dental Aesthetics treatments. Responsible for the treatments provided at IMOI Barcelona and IMOI Ibiza and for the supervision and/or updating of the contents of this blog entry. (7/11/2023). The recommendations described are not generic and do not replace the diagnosis and evaluation of a professional in a dental office. If you want us to clarify any aspect or you want a personalized diagnosis and advice we recommend you to come to our dental clinics.
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