Braces For Kids

Orthodontic care does more than improve someone’s appearance: properly aligned teeth and jaws improve the way a person bites, chews and speaks, and this can affect a child’s self-image as they grow older.

As with most dental and health issues, early diagnosis is the key to better results from treatment. Early evaluation creates an opportunity to take early action to prevent problems from getting worse, for example, and also helps ensure that treatment starts as early as possible.

Common Orthopedic Problems

Common orthodontic problems include:

• Crooked teeth – occurs when the jaw is not wide enough to fit all of the permanent teeth
• Gaps between teeth
• Overbite – when the top teeth extend beyond the bottom teeth
• Underbite – when the bottom teeth extend beyond the top teeth
• Open bite – front teeth do not touch
• Overjet – protruding front teeth

What's the Best Time for Treatment?

The best time for treatment largely depends on the specific dental problem found in the evaluation. Tooth straightening with braces for kids is usually reserved for children between the ages of 9 and 14, after their permanent teeth have come in.

Early treatment provides a wide variety of benefits, such as:

1. Guiding a child’s permanent teeth into a more favorable position
2. Supporting facial and jaw growth for proper bite and tooth alignment later
3. Correcting harmful oral habits
4. Reducing the severity of dental problems and optimizing future treatment results
5. Improving tooth alignment, which boosts a child’s self-confidence

While a child under the age of 9 may be too young for retainers or metal braces for kids, they may benefit from interceptive orthodontics that directs the growth and development of the teeth and jaws to minimize overcrowding and uneven bite later and therefore improve the outcome of braces when the child is older.

Contact Dr. Heidari if you note any of the following signs in your child:

• Early or late loss of baby teeth
• Difficulty biting or chewing
• Mouth breathing
• Jaws that make sounds or shift
• Speech difficulties
• Biting the inside of their cheek frequently
• Facial imbalance
• Clenching their jaws or grinding their teeth

Meet with Dr. Heidari to learn more about her skills, training, and expertise in the detecting signs of future orthodontic problems in children. Dr. Heidari can also offer the best treatment for your children at the right age of their development.

Schedule an appointment with Symphony Orthodontics in our modern, state-of-the-art Bristow, VA, orthodontic office by calling or filling out the online form. We also offer virtual consultations for your convenience.