Children's Braces Specialist

What are children’s braces?

Braces are a classic orthodontic treatment for straightening teeth and bites that are crooked or misaligned. They’re composed of a series of bands, wires, and brackets that exert a small, but constant amount of pressure on your child’s teeth, gradually moving them into a straighter position over a period of time. 

Braces can fix:

• Crooked or overcrowded teeth
• Gaps between teeth
• Overbite
• Underbite
• Other jaw misalignments

Braces can also be used to generally straighten teeth to improve the appearance of your child’s smile.

Your child can even make their braces a fashion statement by selecting fun colors for the elastics or opting for gold braces.

Why should my child get braces?

Properly aligning your child’s smile can have a number of benefits for their oral health, including:

• Easier-to-clean teeth that reduce their risk of tooth decay, cavities, and gum disease
• More evenly distributed biting force, reducing the wear and tear on their teeth
• Improved ability to speak properly

Braces also improve the appearance of your child’s smile, which can boost their confidence and increase their self-esteem.

When should my child get braces?

Duval Orthodontics recommends having a consultation for braces when your child’s final baby teeth are loose, or around age seven. At this age, your child’s teeth and jaw are still growing, which gives their orthodontist an added degree of flexibility in treating their orthodontic condition. 

The sooner you begin treatment, the easier it is for their orthodontist to:

• Reduce overall treatment time
• Guide jaw growth and incoming permanent teeth
• Decrease the need for extractions
• Save space for teeth that have yet to erupt
• Make more room for teeth that are erupting into a crowded smile
• Create better facial symmetry by manipulating jaw growth
• Prevent or eliminate abnormal speech or swallowing problems
• Phase out thumb sucking

Starting treatment before your child’s teeth have finished erupting also allows their orthodontist to detect and address problems before they have a chance to develop into something more complex. And treating conditions before they become complicated, ultimately saves you and your child time and money, not to mention producing better results.

What happens when my child gets braces?

When your child finally does get braces, their orthodontist takes an impression of their mouth using an intraoral scanner. They bond the brackets to their teeth using dental cement, thread the archwire through, and secure everything with elastic bands.

Straightening your child’s teeth with braces can take anywhere from a few months to a few years, during which time your child visits Duval Orthodontics about once a month to have the archwire tightened. 

Get your child started on the track toward a healthier smile by scheduling a visit for children’s braces at Duval Orthodontics today. You can book your consultation by phone or online.