Children's Braces: A helpful guide for parents
Managing braces for children can be a topic many families face. As a parent or carer, making decisions to ensure the best health outcomes for children can feel daunting.
Children's teeth and oral hygiene are critical to ensuring positive outcomes for children's health. In this article, we go through some key considerations about getting your child dental treatment - specifically braces- so if your child needs braces, you can feel ready to support them.
Orthodontics for children
Orthodontics is the specialism of corrective dental treatment to reduce, repair, or correct dental anomalies. This includes, but isn't limited to, crooked teeth, overbites, and crowding.
Children's orthodontic treatments primarily focus on resolving the position and function of misaligned teeth.
Note: The nature of children's orthodontics requires a qualified specialist working in pediatric dentistry and orthodontics. We use specialist orthodontists at Impress for all treatment of children and young people - any provider you use must be registered to practice on patients under 18, too.
When should children see an orthodontist?
A referral to an orthodontic specialist typically comes from your regular dentist when they consider a medical need and the course of corrective treatment necessary.
It’s important to remember that if it’s a referral to NHS services, there is always a waiting list and many children “age out” before they reach the top of the list, which can be frustrating and put you back at square one trying to find a resolution.
NHS dental treatment and children's orthodontics
The NHS is typically the first point of contact to address children's health in the UK. Many children identified as having a clear health need can access free NHS treatment and orthodontic care until the age of 18. The public health service works hard to support the needs of individuals, but there can be lengthy waits for some services.
A specific criteria called the IOTN, or Index of Treatment Needed, is used to assess patients. This means not everyone who needs dental treatment qualifies. If your child doesn't qualify, you will need to look for alternatives.
Did you know?
The British Orthodontic Society says that approximately one-third of all children have a demonstrable need for orthodontic treatment, and a further third are borderline cases.
Milk teeth and teeth alignment for children
The optimum stage for corrective action on young children’s teeth is usually when they have lost all their milk teeth. Most dentists won't recommend orthodontic intervention for children until this stage (typically around 12 years old).
Top tips for dental hygiene
- Embedding daily oral hygiene in your routine is important.
- Brush twice daily.
- Use fluoride toothpaste when age-appropriate.
- Ensure you schedule dental check-ups in good time.
- Avoid foods with added sugars to reduce the risk of cavities.
We mentioned earlier that any of these issues should be managed by a qualified paediatric dentist. Whether you choose NHS orthodontics or private treatment, your provider should support you in understanding the number of treatment options necessary.
Some common orthodontic interventions in young people are:
- Mandibular advancement.
- Palatal advancement.
- Maxillary advancement
Qualified orthodontic specialists should always be consulted when deciding on the dental treatment plan for children. They can help you establish the necessity of braces or other more suitable orthodontic care for children - ensuring you've explored all available solutions.
Children's teeth and getting braces
Braces are the standard type of corrective equipment used on teeth. They use small pieces of metal that are attached to the dental surface of each tooth, they connect with a metal arch to achieve corrections of malpositioned teeth.
Orthodontics for kids can include treatment of several aspects of dental concern:
- Speech and functional problems
- Severe malocclusion
- Narrow palate problems
- Protruding teeth
Your regular dentist can advise you of any action and refer you to other specialists if needed to manage any functional dental problems for your child.
Alternatives to braces
The innovation of clear or invisible aligners (also known as dental or teeth aligners) means that young patients can now have a much more flexible solution to rectify dental misalignment.
How do clear aligners work?
Removable splints are placed on top of the teeth and worn consistently each day, allowing them to perform the same function as braces. The benefit, however, is that they are a much more discreet option that has less of an impact on lifestyle.
If you would like to know for sure if clear aligners are better than braces for your young person, or you want to learn more about our treatment plans for adults or adolescents, get in touch.
How?
By phone or WhatsApp at +44 20 3808 1072, or book an appointment online through our website.
Visit us at your nearest Impress clinic to evaluate your case and discover the treatment that’s best for you. We can’t wait to meet you!
Citations
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/orthodontics/
https://bos.org.uk/schools/faq-for-schools/
FAQ's
Can young people and children use aligners?
YES! Aligners can be used to straighten teeth and correct bite problems in children, typically from age 12 and upwards.
What's the best age to get braces?
Orthodontic braces are normally fitted once all the adult teeth have arrived (typically around the age of 12). It's important to consult with an orthodontist before deciding whether a child is a suitable candidate for aligners or braces.
How much do invisible aligners cost for children?
At Impress, we currently only offer invisible orthodontic treatment to teens and adults. The cost of treatment with clear aligners depends on the complexity of the case.
