Do You Need Orthodontic Braces?

You would think kids only look forward to getting their braces off. But some look forward to getting them on! It could be the cool factor with friends at school now wearing them. Maybe it’s the fun of choosing different color bands. Whatever it is, the fact that braces have gone from geek to chic raises an important question. When is the best time to get them? There’s no simple answer because there’s no set age, but children can be evaluated for orthodontics as young as the age of six.

Wearing braces on your teeth is something like a rite of passage. But not everybody NEEDS braces.

Your dentist may refer you or your child to an orthodontist for the following reasons.

When you or your child experience:

• Early or late loss of baby teeth
• A finger sucking or other oral health habit
• Difficulty in chewing or biting
• Mouth breathing
• Crowding, misplaced, protruding or blocked-out teeth
• Jaws that shift, make sounds, protrude or retrude
• Speech difficulty
• Teeth that meet in an abnormal way or don’t meet at all
• A facial imbalance or symmetry
• Grinding or clenching of teeth

So, why visit an orthodontist?   An orthodontist is a qualified dentist, who had an additional 2-3 years of education and specialized training in tooth movement and the guidance of facial development. The orthodontist will prescribe the orthodontic appliance and restorative technique that is right for the patient.

There are many orthodontic appliances available for one’s teeth and jaw alignment needs, including:

Fixed Braces – traditional, conventional, self-ligating, and ceramic braces).

OR

Removable Braces – sometimes called aligners, which are prescribed when teeth only need to be removed horizontally. These are worn 24/7 except for time eating and drinking, or brushing and flossing.

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from Share A Smile® Blog http://blog.smilegeneration.com/ask-a-dentist/orthodontics/do-you-need-orthodontic-braces/

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