The number of 6-8 year old children getting orthodontic treatment has
significantly increased during the past decade. As a parent, maybe you remember
the anguish you used to suffer when you had to wear braces as a teenager and
want to save your child from this “terror”. Or maybe you hope that the earlier
your child starts wearing orthodontic appliances, the less treatment he will
require later on.
That may be true in some cases (which we’ll discuss later on), but, for
the usual orthodontic issues children
face, early treatment doesn’t actually offer any guarantee that they won’t need
a second round of treatment once they reach their teenage years. And it will
not save you money either – on the contrary.
What You
Need to Know Before Opting for Early Treatment
Early treatment (phase one, as it is also known) brings questionable
benefits in most but not all cases, and it also comes with a series of
disadvantages:
1.
Significant costs
2.
Since, as mentioned, children will usually need to start treatment again
in their teenage years, they can end up wearing braces (on and off) for as many
as 10 years
3.
Prolonged treatment can be exhausting for your child and, thus, he or
she might not be willing to cooperate when the second round of treatment must
be started
4.
Wearing orthodontic appliances comes with side effects and, when
prolonged treatment is involved, this can negatively impact overall dental
health
The Main
Side Effects of Orthodontic Treatment
-
Oral hygiene issues. Wearing orthodontic appliances can make
oral hygiene very difficult, especially in young children – most of who already
hate brushing their teeth, as you know. And poor oral hygiene can lead to gum
disease, staining of the teeth and tooth decay.
-
Root resorption. Root resorption basically means the shortening
or breakdown of the teeth’s roots. A very slight change in root length is
normal in orthodontic patients and doesn’t cause long-term issues. However, in
some cases, especially when the treatment is unnecessarily extended, the
changes can be more serious and can affect the longevity of the teeth.
-
Discomfort. Wearing
orthodontic appliances can be a bit uncomfortable for anyone, but especially
for young children. The teeth might feel slightly loose, a little sore and
tender when biting.
What’s
the Recommended Approach for Common Orthodontic Issues?
The shorter the treatment time is, the fewer and less severe the side
effects will be and the cost will be much better and less expensive. Therefore,
we recommend short, one-phased treatment, which usually starts after all or
most of the baby teeth are gone and takes 12 to 18 visits to the doctor. In
most cases, the patient will not have to wear orthodontic appliances for more
than 2 years.
With this approach, your child will be happy that you won’t drag him to
the orthodontic office too often and that he will get rid of his braces pretty
fast, while you will surely appreciate the money and time you will be saving.
When Is
Phase One Treatment Appropriate?
As mentioned, though not recommended for common problems, early
treatment can be useful in special cases, such as:
1.
Psychological issues – when your child suffers because of other children
making fun of his teeth in school for example
2.
Very severe jaw growth abnormalities/protrusions, which require two-phase
treatment to correct. After the early treatment, a second round will be needed,
when all of the baby teeth are gone. The second phase lasts 18-24 months. The purpose of Phase One treatment in such
situations is to minimize possibility of surgery in the future
Bottom
Line
To sum up, early treatment is not necessary in most cases and can be
quite a hassle both for you and your child. If your orthodontist or pediatric
dentist insists that you choose this approach, you might want to ask for a
second opinion.
We, here at Diamond Braces, offer free consultations and free second
opinions and favor most conservative approach to treatment, so contact us
before rushing into a decision that might not be in your child’s best interest.
You have nothing to loose but to gain. In orthodontics, early doesn’t always mean
better!
No comments:
Post a Comment