Know The Steps Involved With Getting A Child Braces

Have you noticed that your child has teeth that are crooked or misaligned? If so, you may be wondering what steps are involved towards getting them orthodontic treatment. These steps will help guide through what you can expect.

The Consultation

You may think that you cannot take your child to an orthodontist for a consultation until all of their adult teeth have come in. However, it's possible to take them to an orthodontist when some of them have started coming in and are problematic. That's because orthodontic treatments can be started early on to prevent overcrowding, which can cause a problem with their bite at a young age. Even using just a retainer should help the teeth come in straighter and help them deal with jaw issues. If your child is having major issues, this can help them before all their adult teeth come in. In general, there is no harm in visiting an orthodontist for a consultation. It can give you a heads up on potential problems that will be caused by their teeth growing in.

The First Visit

Your orthodontist may recommend a follow up visit in a few years to start an orthodontic treatment. At this time, they will take several x-rays of the child's teeth, and also take an impression of their mouth. The orthodontist will be able to make a determination about if your child is ready to get braces based on how their adult teeth are coming in and the development of their jaw. If so, they will come up a treatment plan for how the braces will move their teeth to get them into the right position.

The Second Visit

Your child will return to the orthodontist to have the brackets placed on their teeth. It is one of the longer appointments when getting braces, which starts with cleaning the teeth. The orthodontist will then install brackets to each tooth,which are connected with a wire.

You'll be given care instruction that need to be followed to ensure that the braces do not become damaged, and schedule a follow up appointment to check on how the braces are working and make the necessary adjustments. You can expect to come back for these visits every 3-4 weeks.

If you have questions about the process of getting braces, reach out to orthodontists like those at Reed & Sahlaney Orthodontics, LLP. They'll be able to answer any questions you have to make you more comfortable with having the dental procedure done for your child.