Does your child need braces?
Unless your family had perfect natural teeth throughout the generations, you and your child will have to come to terms with considering getting them braces. Unlike before, it shouldn’t prove much of a problem to your child’s social life. Braces needed convoluted contraptions before to adjust an individual’s teeth.
It was a painful and humiliating procedure before, but now it’s bearable. While braces still hurt, they’re more covert and manageable. That doesn’t answer all the questions a parent thinks of when their children need braces.
What age do kids get braces? How long will they need them? Find out the answers to all these questions and more by reading what’s below.
1. What Age Do Kids Get Braces?
The first big question always comes down to when your kid needs braces. “What age do kids get braces?” and “Can my kid still get braces at this age?” are the most common questions asked.
Regarding the first question, the ideal age is between the ages of 7 to 14. This is when children lose their baby teeth and their permanent teeth grow. Starting later is better to get a sense of which teeth need some treatment before getting braces.
If you’re wondering it’s too late for your child to get braces, then you need not worry! Your child can get braces at any time! There’s no age limit to wearing braces, but it’s better to start sooner to get it over with faster.
2. Signs to Look For
There are many telltale signs of knowing whether your child needs braces. You can see it during their childhood whether their teeth are growing straight. This is true even if they only have milk teeth when you look.
Their milk teeth say much about how their teeth will grow. Their permanent teeth will follow a similar pattern to how their milk teeth grew. If their baby teeth look off, you can expect their teeth to follow suit.
You can also tell if your child needs them by looking at their smile. If there’s a gap between their teeth while they smile, it means their teeth are off-center. Braces can help correct this by lining their teeth the right way.
3. How Much Should I Expect to Pay?
It’s not a secret that braces are an expensive investment. This is a reason for groups and organizations to hold charity events to make getting braces more achievable for some people. You’ll need a good dental plan to avoid getting bankrupt if you want to pay for everything.
The total cost will depend on how much work needs to go into your child’s teeth. On average, the basic treatment can cost between 2,000 to 8,000 USD. It will get to the lower spectrum if your employee benefits cover for dental.
You can also ask your orthodontist if you can pay in installments, instead. This can help break down a total cost of 8,000 into 8 months of 1,00 USD each. You can negotiate further to reach an agreeable plan.
4. Can’t I Do It Myself?
No, you can’t. Many individuals think doing it themselves is a better option since they will cut costs. They don’t realize that it takes more than knowing where to place brackets to be successful in straightening teeth using braces.
Orthodontists undergo years of training to know when the right time to adjust your child’s brace is. Without this training, you will apply too much pressure on your child’s teeth. If you do this, all your child’s teeth will snap and fall from their gums.
Trust orthodontists and know that their services are worth your money. It’s the best way to ensure your child’s teeth turn out healthy and better than before.
5. How Long Does It Take?
Like with how much it will cost, how long your child will have braces on will depend on how much work their teeth need. If your child only needs straightening or has an alignment issue, it will only take 1-2 years of work.
If some molars need to get pulled out and readjusted, your child may be in it for 2-3 years. It’s a slow process to realign molars to face up, and it takes even longer to pull them to where they need to be.
The only way to extend the expected duration is if your child misses an important session. Ensure your child attends every adjustment session to get this done sooner.
6. How Do I Choose the Right Dentist?
Many dentists and orthodontists are offering their services today. How can you choose the best one for your child, though?
You must first put a list of what you need from your orthodontist together. Place the categories that the orthodontist must fulfill before you consider them. A good category to start with is their location.
You don’t want to drive for long hours every week to get your child to the orthodontist you chose. While it’s not as important as the other factors, it can make your life easier if you find a service within minutes of where you live.
There are more categories for you to consider, but you’ll find the answers to your questions with us. Check out this guide about questions to ask before choosing an orthodontic marketing service today.
7. What If My Child is Nervous?
It’s natural for your child to feel nervous before getting braces. Everyone knows it’s an uncomfortable experience to go through. What can you do to help them calm their nerves, though?
Find out what’s making your child nervous. If it’s because they fear the pain, tell them it will subside after the first week. If they fear their vanity, reassure them by telling them they can opt for clear braces or internal ones.
If they fear that they’ll get bullied, tell them more people are accepting of braces nowadays. Get to the root of the problem extinguish their worries to get them on board with getting braces.
Find Out the Answers to Your Questions and Book an Appointment Today
What age do kids get braces? You’re not the only parent with these questions. We hope our guide here provided the answers to all your questions!
Do you still have more questions about orthodontics? Check more of our guides to know the answers to your questions now! Keep yourself informed to know what’s best for your child today!
