Dental Braces and Orthodontics
Dental braces work by repositioning teeth with the use of a series of brackets and wires. The whole ensemble includes a small bracket glued on each tooth, a thin wire threaded through the brackets, and small elastic bands that secure the wires and the brackets. Over time, the teeth will be able to move into the desired position
Anyone can get braces to fix orthodontic problems but the best and ideal time to get braces is arguably between the ages of 10 to 14, while children’s mouths are still growing and their teeth are more conducive to straightening.
What orthodontic problems can braces fix?
Sealants and Fluoride Treatment
Dental sealants are often used on children for the purpose of acting as a protective barrier placed on their teeth to seal out food and bacteria which can cause cavities. They are commonly administered alongside fluoride treatments. Sealants are useful because they provide extra protection for the grooved areas of teeth. They are often recommended for kids because they serve as an easy solution against tooth decay, which is a prevalent oral problem among children.
Fluoride treatment is the application of fluoride on a child’s teeth in the form of a highly-concentrated rinse, foam, gel, or varnish. Fluoride can help prevent tooth decay or stop it from worsening. Its purpose is to strengthen the tooth enamel.
Dental Cavities
Children have a high risk of having cavities. In fact, tooth decay is the most common chronic disease in children, to the point that it is five times as common as asthma and seven times as common as hay fever. This is why preventing your child from experiencing tooth decay is a hard task.
Cavities are a result of specific types of bacteria producing acid that destroys the tooth’s enamel and it’s underlying layer, the dentin. The acids remove minerals from the enamel which then leads to a cavity.
How to prevent cavities?
Space Maintainers
Space maintainers are custom-made dental appliances that can be in the form of a band or a temporary crown made of acrylic or metal material that is attached to one side of the empty space left by a lost tooth. They are most commonly used by children to prevent their neighbouring teeth from shifting or tipping into the vacant space when they gradually lose their primary or baby teeth.
They are used to ensure that their soon to emerge permanent teeth will come out straight and will not be affected by any tilted primary teeth. When their permanent teeth start coming in, the space maintainer will then be removed by the dentist. By making your child use a space maintainer, you are potentially saving yourself from having to spend more money on future dental treatments.
