Are Braces Right for Your Child?

Have you started noticing that some of your child's teeth are not coming in straight? Are you wondering whether orthodontic care is right for their future? Here at Sudbury Family Dental Care in Sudbury, MA, Dr. Maria Elizondo Marinescu, Dr. Sorin Marinescu, and their associates offer both pediatric dentistry expertise and orthodontic evaluations on patients of all ages. Why not consult with them about your child's smile?

A beautiful smile

It's more than just attractive—it also sparkles with health and functionality, as well. Accordingly, the American Association of Orthodontists asks parents to get their children evaluated for orthodontic treatment by the age of seven. After all, as a child's teeth erupt and their jaw develops, they may experience smile alignment issues which impact appearance, self-esteem, speech, nutrition, and more. Early orthodontic evaluation and treatment, conversely, creates long-term oral health benefits for your youngster.

Are braces right for your child?

Traditional metal braces, ceramic braces, lingual braces, fixed/removable retainers, and palatal expanders are just some of the appliances that our orthodontists use to align teeth and correct bite. Some issues that our Sudbury pediatric dentists see in children are:

• Undersized jaws and oversized teeth
• Gaps and crowding
• Openbite and underbite
• Protruding front teeth (overjet)
• Crossbite
• Tooth rotation
• Tooth impaction

Some alignment and bite issues stem from heredity, according to Stanford Children's Health. In other words, Dr. Lucey often sees similar orthodontic problems in more than one member of the family.

Other issues come from:

• Prolonged thumb-sucking and pacifier use
• Mouth breathing due to allergies or sinus problems
• Late or partial eruption of baby teeth
• Jaws which move from side to side or are recessed

The treatment process

On average, children who need braces of one kind or other start treatment by the age of 10 and finish in two and a half years. During this time, parents must supervise a child's oral hygiene and dietary habits at home and follow-through with each scheduled check-up at Sudbury Family Dental Care. This consistent care ensures that smiles stay healthy during treatment and that progress stays on track.

Find out more

Here at Sudbury Family Dental Care, your child will receive friendly pediatric dentistry no matter their age or smile issue. If your child is approaching age seven, or if you see some possible problems in function or appearance, please call us for a consultation. We are open at 7:30 am Monday through Thursday. Phone the office team at (978) 443-5193.