Labbe Family Orthodontics understands that a parent may worry if his or her child requires braces. This procedure is costly, and as a parent, you don’t want your child to suffer from the embarrassment of a smile he or she isn’t proud of. This guide will help you understand if your child may need braces.
- Between the Ages of 9 and 14
Generally, an orthodontist with Labbe Family Orthodontics won’t recommend your child receive braces until he or she is between the ages of nine and 14. During this time, your child will have at least some of his or her permanent teeth. Therefore, an orthodontist can detect if your child has an issue that requires braces for correction.
- Difficulty Biting or Chewing
If your child has a misalignment or an issue with his or her bite, he or she may not be able to chew or bite normally. This can, unfortunately, affect how much your child eats as well as what your child eats. Although these issues may stem from other problems, you should look for other signs that your child has an issue with his or her teeth.
- Crowded Teeth
Another sign your child may need braces is if your child has crowded teeth. With this problem, you may notice your child’s teeth are close together. His or her teeth may even overlap. Unfortunately, this issue can affect how your child chews and can also cause issues when he or she can’t brush and floss all of his or her teeth properly.
- Blocked Out Teeth
When you look at your child’s teeth, you should see all of them. If your child has teeth that are behind the other ones, your child may need braces to correct the problem. Unfortunately, if your child has this problem, he or she can’t brush the blocked out teeth well. This problem can also have an impact on his or her speech.
- Spaced Out Teeth
Additionally, you may notice that your child’s teeth have gaps in between them. This problem with gaps is mainly aesthetic. Your child may feel self-conscious about the gaps in his or her teeth once he or she gets older. While not all gaps are a cause for concern, an orthodontist from Labbe Family Orthodontics can determine if you want to close the gaps in between your child’s teeth.
- Misaligned Bite
You may also notice that your child’s bite doesn’t meet up properly, or maybe his or her bottom and top teeth don’t match up at all. This bite issues can cause problems eating. They also can cause your child to grind his or her teeth.
These six problems all indicate your child may need braces. While you won’t know for sure, if you notice these issues, an orthodontist can help determine the appropriate course of action for your child.
