The visit to the dentist is something that parents should start from the first tooth their little one has. At the latest, the first visit must be when they are one year old, and in this, they can begin to detect some problems in bone formation or teeth. How to know if your child needs orthodontic treatment
However, to know when orthodontic treatment is needed to correct any malformation or dysfunction in the mouth, it will be necessary to wait until the children are 7 or 8 years old. This is when the final upper and lower incisors will already be in place, and it will be easier to know if a specific treatment is required.
The orthodontist is who will be in charge of knowing if it is necessary or not to use a device to correct this problem. Also, you should keep in mind that it will also correctly determine the growth of the bones, and thus also avoid problems in the face.
What signs can indicate that orthodontic treatment is necessary?
Although it isn’t something you can easily detect at home, certainly some symptoms will let you know if orthodontic treatment is necessary. Among the main ones are:
- Irregular loss of their baby teeth.
- Difficulty chewing or biting.
- Teeth are misaligned or visible to the naked eye.
- There are noises around the jaw when moving it.
- Teeth don’t come together when biting.
- The teeth aren’t proportional to the face.
If your child is experiencing any of these symptoms, they will most likely need orthodontic treatment to correct it. However, it will always be better to turn to a professional opinion, because in this way, you can be sure that everything is being done correctly.
Is it a hereditary problem?
In most cases, parental genetics may significantly affect the development of teeth and be predisposing to them needing orthodontic treatment. Normally these problems have to do with the space they have in the mouth, which does not correspond to the size of the teeth.
In these cases, the teeth may come out over each other, but this is a problem that will not always depend solely on genetics. Bad habits like thumb sucking, poor nutrition or even breathing through the mouth can cause teeth not to be in a good position.
Therefore, in addition to the genetic factors that may be being expressed, you should take into consideration that if your child has bad habits, it is likely to require corrective treatment.
When should treatment be started?
In the event that your child needs an orthodontic treatment, Dra. López, our specialist in orthodontics, will let you know when is the best time to start. Not necessarely all permanent teeth must in place, we can have an orthodontic treatment even with baby teeth in mouth.
It is of great importance to keep in mind that orthodontic treatment in children is not the same as that of adults. In many cases, removable appliances will be used to adjust the position of the teeth, and these will depend on the age and type of problem the patient has.
You should keep in mind that the placement of these devices usually doesn’t cause pain, but it can certainly cause discomfort and much stress to the little ones. However, when the child gets used to it, they will not have any problem in having the devices placed in their teeth.
What is the duration of the treatment?
It is of great importance to keep in mind that the duration will depend on the severity of the problem and the difficulty in treating it. Generally, in one or two years, almost any problem can be corrected. However, it is a measure that will depend on everything that has to be improved in your child’s bite.
You should keep in mind that although it is a treatment that has a long duration, it has become increasingly accessible. For this reason, the price is something you shouldn’t worry.