Part of ensuring your child grows up healthy and happy is taking care of their smile. Brushing and flossing are key, but identifying orthodontic issues early can lead to a beautiful, easy-to-maintain smile for years to come. By knowing the signs a child needs braces and scheduling an appointment for orthodontics for children in Sonoma County, you’re already halfway there.
Signs Your Child Needs Braces
If you’re wondering whether you should look into kids’’ braces in Santa Rosa (or Invisalign), these are the signs you should check for:
1.Large Gaps Between Teeth
Your child’s first adult teeth usually emerge when they’re between the ages of six and seven. As they’re coming in, check the spacing. While you may notice some spacing between teeth, it should be relatively even between each tooth. If the gaps are large, it could be an early signs of a spacing issue.
2.Severe Crowding
The teeth typically touch one another. However, if they’re overlapping or seem to be crowded, the teeth may need to be spaced out a bit. This will give your child room between the teeth to brush and floss and reduce the chances of developing decay. Overall, your child will have a more even, balanced smile after their children’s orthodontic treatment.
3.Visible Bite Misalignments
Take a look at how your child’s adult teeth are coming in. With a normal bite alignment, the upper and lower teeth will fit together. However, over 56 percent of the world population has a dental misalignment, as noted by the Cleveland Clinic. In children, that percent could be up to 93 percent.
Some of the specific kinds include:
- Overbite: Upper front teeth extend over the lower front teeth
- Underbite: Lower front teeth overlap the upper front teeth
- Crossbite: Upper teeth fit inside the lower teeth
- Open bite: Lower and upper teeth don’t meet when the mouth closes
- Overjet: Top teeth extend over lower teeth but stick out forward
4.Crooked Teeth
Evaluate your child’s smile for crooked teeth — an issue that describes various spacing issues, such as rotated, twisted, or overlapping teeth. One or more teeth may sit more forward or backward than others. Some teeth may look shorter or longer than the rest because they sit higher or lower in the gums.
5.Difficulty Chewing or Speaking
When your child is speaking, listen carefully to hear if they have a lisp. This happens when “s” and “z” sounds sound more like “th.” On the other hand, they may struggle to pronounce those letters. Some children have difficulty making the “t,” “d,” “n,” “f,” and “v” sounds. Your kid’s words may sound mumbled or unclear.
6.Prolonged Pacifier Use or Thumb-Sucking
A pacifier can help your child self-soothe, particularly during the first year. Some children may give it up on their own when it is no longer appealing, but you may need to start weaning them off the pacifier, usually around the age of 18 months, but no later than age three, as noted by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).
If your child had a pacifier for longer, they could have dental problems from it. During an early orthodontic evaluation, an orthodontist can tell if kids’ braces in Santa Rosa are necessary.
7.Mouth Breathing
One of the signs a child needs braces is often mouth breathing. While a kid may occasionally breathe through their mouth when they’re ill or suffering from airborne allergies, mouth breathing regularly can mean their bite or jaw growth is off.
What to Do if Your Child Has Signs (and When)
Orthodontics for children in Sonoma County may be necessary if you’re noticing any of the aforementioned signs. Ideally, you want to bring your child into Bernstein Orthodontics before the age of seven for an early orthodontic evaluation. At this point, an orthodontist can evaluate the teeth positioning and jaw alignment.
Sometimes, the child may receive orthodontic treatment at this age for severe problems. The braces may only go on a few teeth. Your child may be given devices to help them stop sucking on a pacifier or their thumb. An expander may be given to widen the jaw.
Most often, though, your child won’t receive any treatment at this appointment. Instead, you and the orthodontist will go over whether your child will need orthodontic treatment in the future. We commonly recommend children receive orthodontic care between the ages of nine and 14.
This is a good age bracket because your child has all or most of their permanent teeth at this point. The jaw is still malleable, so the treatment takes less time, and it’s easier to get accurate results. And if you choose to get your kid braces during adolescence or the teenage years, they’re typically mature enough to handle the responsibility of Invisalign and the requirements associated with it.
When you know the signs a child needs braces and where to go for an evaluation, you can keep on top of your child’s oral healthcare needs. Besides looking at visible signs, you also want to hear how your kid is speaking, which can reveal a lot about the position of their teeth and jaw alignment. Once we see your child, we can also formulate a game plan if they do need orthodontic treatment.
Call Bernstein Orthodontics today at 707-575-0600 to book an evaluation for your child if your child is exhibiting signs they may need braces, Invisalign, or another orthodontic treatment.
FAQs
If you still have questions, we’re here to help. We’ve compiled a list of the most commonly asked questions patients ask us about early orthodontics.
1.What age is best for kids orthodontics?
There isn’t a best age for kids orthodontics. Ideally, though, we recommend kids get braces or Invisalign between the ages of 11 and 13. We recommend bringing a child in as early as seven for an evaluation.
2.Does my 8 year old really need an expander?
Eight is a good age for an expander because the jaw is still malleable, so the expander will work well. While most children don’t need one, some may. It all depends on your child if they’ll need one or not.
3.How do I know if my child really needs braces?
Mainly, you want to look for signs that your child’s teeth have spacing issues or gaps or don’t come together as they should. You’ll also want to listen to their speech because lisps and mispronunciation issues can be associated with teeth and jaw placement. If you have any doubts or see the signs, we recommend you schedule an appointment so we can tell you for certain.
4.Can you pay $100 a month for braces for my child?
At Bernstein Orthodontics, we offer low-cost monthly payment plans to help you afford the price of your child’s treatment. We can discuss your specifics when you arrive.
5.Why are kids getting braces so early?
With advancements in technology, we’re able to detect problems early. Not to mention, research indicates early intervention has better outcomes for some patients.