Your smile shows the sincerity of your happiness. As a physical asset, anyone — especially kids — can become conscious of their smile and teeth. Whether you notice your child exhibiting signs of a bite or alignment problem, seeing an orthodontist at the age of seven paves the way for better dental health.
The world of orthodontics can be puzzling for parents, but this guide from Bowen Family Orthodontics helps you find out if your child needs to see an orthodontist.
Why Should Kids Have to See an Orthodontist?
Dentists and orthodontists play a critical role in ensuring children’s oral health. However, it’s important to highlight the differences between the two.
Dentists are general practitioners who treat tooth decay, gum disease, and other common dental issues, whereas orthodontists specialize in dental development. Unlike dentists, orthodontists receive additional education and offer orthodontic treatment to young and adult patients.
With this in mind, here’s why parents and their children need to consult an orthodontist:
Early Treatment of Orthodontic Problems: Prevention is better than a cure. From crooked teeth to irregular bites, Dr. Jessica Bowen and her team will take care of your little one’s orthodontic issues — allowing for early prevention and treatment of serious dental problems.
Personalized Treatment: Orthodontists take into consideration your lifestyle and medical history. They also take digital images and X-rays to accurately see the overall structure of your child’s bite, jaw, and teeth.
This helps Dr. Bowen determine the severity of your child’s case, allowing them to come up with a unique treatment plan and understand how to shift the teeth to move them in the exact right location.
Improved Self-Esteem: Poor orthodontic care is one of the causes of poor self-esteem among kids. If your child is self-conscious of their smile, they may struggle with making new friends or speaking up in class. Worse, your child’s teeth can be a target for bullies.
Thankfully, it’s not always doom and gloom. We are committed to helping your child achieve the best possible smile through our comfortable, cutting-edge treatment options, which include metal braces and Invisalign.
Breaking Bad Habits: Characterized by misaligned teeth and bite problems, malocclusion is a hereditary and environmental condition. For example, your child may develop an irregular bite due to frequent thumb sucking, prolonged use of pacifiers, and injury to the jaws. The good news is that these bad habits can be broken with a trip to an orthodontist.
Does My Child Need to See An Orthodontist?
Dr. Bowen and the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) recommend taking your child to an orthodontist by age seven, or when they begin to show signs of an orthodontic problem. With early intervention, our team can prevent complex oral issues from arising and affecting their social life.
So if your child exhibits one of the following bite problems, it’s a sign that your little one needs to see an orthodontist:
Overbite: An overbite occurs when your child’s front teeth protrude more than their lower teeth. This type of alignment issue is caused by genetics, prolonged use of pacifiers, and thumb-sucking. When untreated, it leads to headaches, jaw pain, and gum disease.
Underbite: Unlike overbites, the protrusion happens on the lower teeth instead of the upper teeth. Thumb-sucking, genes, and jaw or facial injuries also play a role in developing an underbite. Complications from an underbite include speech difficulties, sleep apnea, and tooth decay.
Crowding: This is characterized by a lack of space for adequate tooth growth, causing your little one’s teeth to rotate or overlap. What’s scary about crowding is it may occur on the upper and lower jaw. A number of factors lead to crowding, including tongue thrusting, mouth breathing, and early loss of baby teeth. If your kid has crowded teeth, they may struggle with chewing food.
Gapped Teeth: Medically known as diastema, this orthodontic problem is defined by large spaces between the teeth. While spaced teeth normally occur as your child loses their baby teeth, this becomes a major orthodontic concern when there are still gaps between the newly erupted adult teeth.
Some of the causes of gapped teeth include smaller teeth size, missing teeth, and gum disease. Complications from this condition, on the other hand, include increased plaque accumulation and bad breath.
What Treatment Options Do Orthodontists Offer?
Orthodontists are equipped with the knowledge and skills to determine the right orthodontic treatment for your child. Here’s what you need to know about each one:
Metal Braces: Braces are the classic treatment for bite problems and misalignment. Our metal braces in Mullica Hill are comfortable and affordable, so your child can confidently flash their teeth without breaking the bank.
The colors of the elastic bands are also one of the standout features of braces. Whether your child prefers the color pink or a color combination based on their favorite characters, our braces are customizable.
Clear Braces: Clear braces or ceramic braces are a subtle alternative to traditional braces. While ceramic braces offer the same benefits as metal braces, they are prone to breakage. Children can wear them, but we usually recommend this treatment to older kids, teens, and adults.
WildSmiles: Coming in fun designs, WildSmiles takes orthodontic treatment into a stylish and exciting experience for children. From star-shaped to Disney-inspired brackets, your little one will enjoy combining all the designs they fancy and take their oral care more seriously.
Invisalign: Invisalign is the most discreet of all treatment options. Like braces, Invisalign helps align the teeth and address bite problems, including overbites and underbites. Since they are removable, patients must exercise caution to avoid losing their aligners.
While clear aligners can be worn by kids, seeing an orthodontist is the best way to check your child’s eligibility for Invisalign. In our clinic, clear aligners are best suited for our teenage and adult patients in Mullica Hill.
Your Child’s First Visit to an Orthodontist
Although your child may feel anxious on their first trip to an orthodontist’s office, it doesn’t have to be that way at Bowen Family Orthodontics. Below are the things you can expect during your visit with us:
- Scheduling: A consultation is the first step in jumpstarting your little one’s orthodontic care. Depending on your schedule, you can opt for a free virtual or in-person appointment.
- Virtual consultations: Take a picture of your child’s teeth and smile at the angles provided on our website. After Dr. Bowen assesses the photographs, she will reach out to you and share with you her proposed treatment plans.
- In-person consultations: Patients in Mullica Hill can fill out our digital consultation form and select “I want to come to your office.” You can call our Mullica Hill office to schedule a consultation, too. Upon visiting our office, Dr. Bowen and her expert team of orthodontists will welcome you with open arms. Interestingly, some clinics conduct office tours to make your first visit more memorable. Nevertheless, in-person consultations should set the stage for your child’s orthodontic journey — don’t be shy to ask questions about payment, insurance coverage, and alternative treatment options.
- Icebreaker Time: Dr. Bowen and her team conduct a thorough assessment of your child’s dental history and take photos of their jaws and teeth, allowing them to create the perfect treatment plan.
- Custom Treatment Plan Creation: Dr. Bowen will assist you during this process. She will answer questions about your treatment plan’s schedule, discomfort level, cost, and many more. Dr. Bowen will also highlight any areas of concern about your child’s teeth.
- The Choice to Begin Your Child’s Treatment: Believe it or not, your child can undergo treatment on your first consultation. From there, you and your child will regularly visit our clinic for brief check-ins on the treatment’s progress.
Glow Up Your Child’s Smile
No parent wants to see their child become embarrassed of their own smile. But with the right orthodontic care and regular visits to our office, your little one will thank you and the orthodontist for their renewed confidence in smiling.
Contact the Bowen Family Orthodontics team today to make a difference in your child’s appearance and confidence!