Who is the perfect candidate?
About one in five orthodontic patients are between twenty and sixty years of age. For teens and grown-ups, the most common reason for orthodontics is appearance, followed by function. This is not so for younger children. More than half of all children have problems with their teeth or jaws, including front teeth that stick out because of thumb sucking, as well as teeth that don’t come out properly, spaces, poorly aligned bites and crowded or missing teeth. The key for them is early orthodontic care and monitoring. Between the ages of five and ten, permanent teeth begin to appear and bones and muscles of the face and jaw develop rapidly. This is when we can best influence growth in order to create a set of teeth that will last the individual a life time of joy and symptom free of bite-related issues (jaw aches, headaches, ear aches, skeletal mal-alignments etc).
Early intervention can actually prevent some problems from ever developing. That’s why it’s important to bring your child in for their first dental evaluation as early as age 3-4. We can do a thorough check and, if necessary, begin to either monitor their growth pattern or guide it.
Should only children have the treatment?
It’s true that children’s teeth are easier to move, however adults follow instructions much better than children and that can drastically cut down treatment time. People over the age of 18 now make up more than 40% of our orthodontic patients. Modern and invisible braces can be a great way to improve your smile and make your teeth last longer. Straightened teeth are more pleasing to the eye and far less susceptible to dental disease.
What does the treatment involve?
The most important thing is to have a full dental examination. This will usually involve looking at your teeth, taking x-rays and making plaster models of your teeth.
Your dentist will then discuss what treatment is appropriate and its proposed duration.
If you have any concerns, pop into our friendly and comfortable clinic and get your worries washed away!
