Parenting is hard. From daycare to dinosaurs to discipline to dating, not to mention dentistry. On the topic of dentistry, one subject that we get a lot of questions from parents about is orthodontics. Orthodontic treatment in Cranbrook is a significant investment of time and money, but also a tremendous investment in your child’s future dental health.
We’ve gathered up five of the most common questions we receive from parents about orthodontist work. We hope the answers will help parents to navigate some of the information and options when it comes to straightening their child’s teeth. If, after reviewing these questions and answers, you still have questions of your own or want some specific advice, reach out to a dentist in Cranbrook. We’d love to meet you and help.
What caused my son’s orthodontic problems?
Most orthodontic problems are either inherited through genetic influences or acquired as the result of circumstances. Sometimes the combination of a child’s individual circumstances combined with inherited conditions makes orthodontic issues more serious than they otherwise would be.
How do children acquire orthodontic problems? There are several circumstances that can contribute to and complicate orthodontic issues, including:
- Sucking thumbs or fingers for too long
- Breathing through a child’s mouth and an abnormal swallowing
- The untimely loss of baby teeth
- Poor dental hygiene or nutrition
- Accidents and injury.
What’s the point of orthodontic treatment in Cranbrook?
A healthy bite is determined by two primary components: the alignment of teeth and the position of the jaw. When a child has a healthy bite, they’ll be able to bite, chew and eat properly and painlessly as well as learn to speak clearly. Well-aligned teeth are also more attractive and easier to keep clean and, thus, healthy.
The goal of orthodontic treatment is to ensure your child has a healthy bite by placing your teeth in their proper alignment to allow full, comfortable, painless, and attractive dental function.
Is orthodontic work cosmetic or essential?
Both. There’s no denying that straight, properly aligned, and consistently spaced teeth are considered more attractive and that having more attractive teeth contributes to healthy confidence, self-esteem, and relationships. From that perspective, orthodontic work definitely confers cosmetic benefits. But cosmetic benefits are not the only benefits to be gleaned from orthodontic treatment in Cranbrook.
Misaligned teeth can contribute to breathing problems, poor nutrition, sleeping problems, pain, and increased risks of serious tooth decay and periodontal disease. Timely and effective orthodontic treatment from a dentist in Cranbrook can prevent all those essential health problems.
Will my daughter’s teeth straighten on their own over time?
No. In fact, orthodontic issues will worsen as time goes by. The amount of space in your child’s jaw to accommodate her permanent teeth will not increase with time. Once those permanent teeth begin to come in, any problems that are already apparent will get worse as those already-crooked teeth are pushed and twisted by emerging permanent teeth. Beyond the effect on the teeth themselves, the passage of time will increase the risk of tooth decay, gum disease, and bone loss at the same time.
If we decide to go for it, when should orthodontic treatment start?
In a perfect world, your child should be assessed for potential orthodontic issues before they turn eight years old. At that point, your child will have a mix of baby and adult teeth and your orthodontist will be able to see how things are developing. Any apparent issues can be treated effectively at this early age, perhaps even with preventative or minimally invasive treatment options. Your dentist may also recommend a simple wait-and-see-while-watching attitude.
Having said that, if your child isn’t assessed by the time they turn eight or problems don’t arise until after that age, it’s not too late to take your child to an orthodontist. Your orthodontist has a wide variety of treatment options available to address orthodontic issues at any age — even in adulthood.
The staff at dental clinics near you understand that the prospect of orthodontic work can be stressful for the entire family — parents and children alike. The staff that works with an orthodontist near you are committed to providing the most effective and efficient options to improve your child’s oral health as comfortably as possible. If you’re concerned about the state of your child’s teeth or would like to schedule an orthodontic assessment, get in touch with a dentist near you.