My Child’s Teeth Are Misaligned, What Can I Do About It?

There are lots of choices on the dental market to help with this kind of situation, but the first thing you need to do is arrange an appointment with your local dentist or orthodontist, to see what exactly is required to fix the problem. If your child is still in primary school it is unlikely that they will have lost all of their milk teeth and grown their adult teeth, so it’s better to wait until this process is complete – at least for the front teeth, before deciding on treatment. It’s possible that misalignments in the milk teeth can predict similar issues in permanent teeth, due to the positioning of the sockets, but it is not always the case, and most reputable dentists would chose not to operate on them at this stage, as problems may not actually arise. It’s fairly typical that lots of children in their early to mid-teens require some sort of orthodontic device; this becomes apparent as most of the adult teeth break through. Dentists recommend that treatment takes place at this early opportunity, as immature adult teeth are easier to align than older ones. Of course, adults can also benefit from orthodontic appliances, but it normally takes a little bit longer to perform to the same degree when the patient is older.

If the dentist says that your child is ready to have dental treatment, there are numerous ways they may suggest straightening their teeth, almost all of which include some sort of orthodontic device, such as metal braces or an aligner.

What are the different types of braces for kids?

Fixed braces – A lot of adults and teenagers are not keen on this kind of brace, as it is often referred to as ‘train tracks’ and is a very obvious form of treatment, however, it is normally very effective with more extreme cases and is still widely used in dentistry today. The metal brackets are cemented to the surface of the teeth and then joined together with a wire, which applies constant pressure to the misaligned teeth, in order to gradually move them into a straighter position. There are various different designs of traditional fixed braces, but the overall concept has remained largely unchanged for several decades, due to the fact that it is suitable for even the most severe misalignments, and it is generally thought to be the most cost effective solution available.

Removable braces – These types of devices are better suited to kids with mild misalignments, as they have limited movement and can’t deal with severely crooked or crowded teeth. Removable aligners are known as ‘invisible braces’ in the dental world, because they are made out of vacuum-formed resin, which is then clipped over the top of the natural teeth to apply constant pressure in the appropriate places; once fitted, the device is barely noticeable. A clear brace system will normally involve using one aligner for a specific length of time, then replacing it with a second, third, fourth, etc. to complete the required movement. When compared to traditional methods, removable braces are at the more expensive end of the scale, but some systems can perform effectively in a matter of weeks, making them worth a little extra investment.

Lingual braces – If your kids need something that can work with more severe misalignments, but they don’t want the components to show when they smile or talk, you could try lingual braces; in principal, they work in the same way as traditional braces and are also made up of wires and brackets, however, instead of being fixed to the front of the teeth, they are cemented to the back of them, so they are out of sight. Furthermore, they are coloured to match the natural shade of the patient’s teeth, to make any visible portions much more discreet. This kind of device is quite costly though, as all the brackets have to be manufactured to fit each individual tooth, and made small enough to fit on the back of the teeth without causing problems; ‘train track’ braces use a standard size bracket on every patient.

The Inman aligner – This device could be considered a mixture of resin aligners and traditional methods, because it combines the clear retainer-like shape and metal components to create an appliance capable of performing successfully in as little as eight weeks. The Inman aligner has only recently become available on the UK market, so you might struggle to find it if you don’t live near a clinic associated with the Inman Company, but once they become better known among patients and dentists, they should be easier to come by. In a similar way to other aligners, the Inman appliance is not able to help with extreme alignment problems, but it can straighten out crowding at the front of either jaw, and reposition badly spaced teeth. It works by pushing the teeth from the back with springs, then pulling them back into line with a wire than runs around the front – this is visible, but can be coloured to blend in with the enamel shade, making it less noticeable. At the moment, the Inman aligner is quite expensive, because it is so specialised, but if you’re looking for a fast treatment for your child, this is the one to go for.

Are there any other options for my child?

The only other restorative techniques involve cutting away sections of the enamel and replacing it with a synthetic shell that fits over the teeth, otherwise known as dental veneers. It’s highly unlikely that your dentist will recommend this as a solution to childhood orthodontic problems; it’s very invasive and could seriously damage adolescent teeth. Unless you bring up veneers at your child’s initial consultation, it probably won’t be mentioned by the dentist, it’s not something that a respectable orthodontist should consider with pre-teens and young adults.

For more information on braces for kids, call the Pearl Dental Clinic today and speak to a member of the team, there is always someone available to talk about the options available to you and your child.