Braces for Children: Age and Appropriate Methods

Braces are an extremely useful solution to improve dental defects in children. However, improper braces can cause damage to the jaw and oral diseases. Below is basic knowledge about braces for children that parents need to pay attention to in order to ensure safety and achieve the highest orthodontic efficiency for their children.

Braces for children and things to know

1. Why children’s teeth are crooked and need braces

Children’s teeth grow crookedly for many reasons:

Due to genetics, congenital

The jawbone is small while the teeth are large, not enough space to grow, causing the teeth to grow crowded and not in a straight line.

If the upper jaw develops unevenly, the upper jaw will protrude forward.

If the lower jaw grows too long, it will cause an overbite, creating an underbite or plowshare.

răng trè do di sinh sinh
Children’s teeth are misaligned due to congenital malalignment

Poor oral care

Baby teeth that are decayed when they are young and not treated must be extracted early, before they reach the age of teething. When permanent teeth grow, they lose their orientation, grow in the wrong position on the jaw and cause misalignment.

Bad habits

Bad habits in babies include thumb sucking, hairpins, mouth breathing, tongue thrusting, upper lip pursed, lower lip biting, etc. All of these habits can cause misaligned teeth, buck teeth, and open bites.

bad habits that cause children's teeth to be crooked
Thumb sucking habit makes children’s teeth worse

Accidents

Dental injuries will change the position of children’s teeth, leading to misalignment, tooth decay, periodontal disease causing tooth loss,…

Poor nutrition

Poor nutrition can lead to tooth decay and poor oral development. This is a potential premise for crooked teeth.

poor nutrition causes crooked teeth in children
Diet affects children’s teeth

2. Cases that require braces for children

Usually, when children have the following dental problems, parents should take them to the dentist early for examination and braces. Specifically:

– Teeth grow crowded, in the wrong position on the jaw
– In case of sparse teeth, crooked teeth
– Teeth with signs of malocclusion such as: overbite, deep bite, crossbite, open bite, buck teeth, underbite, etc.
– In case of buck teeth, buck teeth, underbite, etc.

cases where children need braces
Children should have braces immediately if their teeth grow unevenly

3. Should children have braces?

Early braces for children help reduce the time of braces because at this time the child’s jawbone is still soft, so the doctor will easily move the teeth to the correct position, the success rate is high, and crooked teeth will be arranged in the correct position on the jaw.

Ugly teeth cause inferiority complex for children

A row of crooked teeth will definitely cause an aesthetic loss, making the child feel inferior and self-conscious. This affects the formation of the child’s personality and causes daily communication to progress in a negative, closed direction. In addition, an incorrect bite will cause the child to have difficulty chewing and pronouncing.

Limiting oral diseases

When parents take their children to the dentist for braces early, the child will be checked and examined carefully every month, helping to detect oral diseases early, from which the doctors will have the most appropriate solution. Thereby, children can avoid many oral diseases such as: periodontitis, tooth decay, gingivitis, …

braces help children limit oral diseases
Braces help children get regular dental care

4. The best age for braces for children

According to dental experts, the age from 7 to 16 years old is the stage when children are changing their baby teeth and gradually stabilizing their permanent teeth, the jawbone is still developing, so it is convenient for straightening. Applying braces to children at this time will bring higher results with faster time and less cost than braces for adults.

Braces for children aged 7 – 9 years old

At this time, braces are to shape the teeth and maintain them until the teeth are fully replaced. At that time, the teeth will grow in the correct position with a more standard shape and direction. If there are any unusual deviations, they will be detected and adjusted promptly, making them easier to perform and bringing quick results.

Braces for children aged 12 – 18 years old

When children have completed their permanent teeth, braces will be prescribed if their teeth tend to be protruding, misaligned, crooked or spaced. Braces with fixed appliances (braces) or removable braces (Invisalign) for children to achieve optimal orthodontic results.

appropriate age for braces for children
Children should have braces early

5. Benefits of early braces for children

Advantages when parents let their children have braces early:

– Early braces will promptly affect the development of the jawbone, helping children have a balanced and deformed facial skeleton, limiting the risk of jaw surgery.

– Early braces when the jawbone is still growing can respond well to the growth inhibition or stimulation of the device to bring the two jaws closer together when biting tightly. From there, the time for braces is shortened, less painful.

– Braces for children will limit tooth extraction and the doctor will only intervene in tooth correction based on the development of the jaw, not depending on the gap as in adults.

– Help children have an even and beautiful smile, without having to face inconvenience in communication with braces in adulthood.


Braces will help children be happier and more confident

6. Current orthodontic methods for children

Current orthodontic methods for children are quite diverse, with each age and different tooth condition being assigned a suitable method to bring high efficiency, as well as ensure safety:

Removable orthodontic appliances

This is a technique that uses a plastic tray or plastic jaw to wear on the jaw. From there, it helps to gradually straighten the child’s teeth. Normally, this method is applied to cases where the child is in the stage of tooth replacement. This is also an effective solution for the condition of a narrow jaw, helping to widen the jaw in proportion to the face.

removable braces for children
Removable braces for children

Metal braces

This method is for children 12 years of age and older when their permanent teeth are almost complete. The doctor will attach fixed braces to the teeth, the pulling force on the braces will help the teeth move to the desired position. Braces must be fixed during the entire orthodontic period, so it can cause many inconveniences for children when eating and cleaning their teeth.

metal braces for children
Metal braces for children

Ceramic braces

Similar to metal braces, ceramic braces use a ceramic bracket system. However, ceramic braces are more improved than the metal braces method because they are more aesthetic because their color is similar to the tooth color.

braces for children
Braces for children

Invisible metal braces

Braces are attached to the inside of the teeth. This type of braces is highly aesthetic. However, this case is applied to cases of mild misalignment of teeth and long treatment time.

Invisible braces

Highly appreciated by experts for its effectiveness, the time of braces is faster than conventional methods. This method is applied to all ages, suitable for both children who are changing teeth and when their permanent teeth have fully grown.

clear braces for children
Clear braces for children

7. Factors determining the cost of braces for children

The cost of braces for children depends on many different factors, we cannot determine the exact fixed price. Below are some factors that affect the cost of braces for children.

The degree of misalignment of children’s teeth

The cost of braces for children also depends on the degree of misalignment of children’s teeth. If the teeth are slightly misaligned, the cost of braces will be less. In cases of severe misalignment, more procedures are needed, and more effort is required, so the cost will also be higher.

Children’s oral health status

Before performing braces, the child will need to be examined in detail to see what the oral health status is like, and whether there are any diseases. If the child has dental problems, they need to be treated first before proceeding with braces. Therefore, the cost of braces for children will also be higher than normal.

Braces method

This can be said to be the factor that directly determines the cost of braces. Currently, there are many braces methods with different prices, depending on the needs and the misalignment of each child’s teeth, the doctor will give the appropriate treatment method. Normally, braces with metal braces are low cost, while Invisalign braces have the highest cost, up to hundreds of millions of VND.

cost of braces for children
The cost of braces for children depends on many factors

at BIK International Dental Clinic

8. Good address for braces for children in Ho Chi Minh City

BIK International Dental Clinic is proud to be a reputable and quality service provider in braces. With a team of dental and maxillofacial specialists with many years of experience and good expertise, they will enthusiastically advise customers on their teeth condition and choose the appropriate method. BIK International Dental Clinic always puts the interests of customers first, we serve with dedication and responsibility, bringing you a bright smile.

– A team of experts and doctors with many years of experience, all technical operations are performed by specialized orthodontists.

– Good, clean facilities, meeting the prescribed standards.

– Modern machinery and technology systems, applying advanced dental techniques in the world.

– Dentistry complies with the requirements on procedures, sterilization, disinfection, and cross-infection prevention of the Ministry of Health

– Dental price list is listed, reasonable and transparent.

children's braces dentistry
BIK International Dental Clinic – Children’s Braces Center

Hopefully, the above information has helped parents grasp the basic knowledge about children’s braces. If you have any questions that need to be answered, please contact BIK International Dental Clinic immediately via Hotline: 19008015 for detailed and completely free advice from experts.

Mỗi phòng khám thuộc hệ thống Nha Khoa Quốc Tế BIK được Sở Y tế các tỉnh thành thẩm định các danh mục kỹ thuật khác nhau. Quý khách sẽ được thực hiện các dịch vụ theo đúng những danh mục kỹ thuật mà Sở Y tế cho phép. Những danh mục khác sẽ được thực hiện tại bệnh viện.
Each clinic in the BIK International Dental System is assessed by the Department of Health of each province and city for different technical categories. You will receive services according to the technical categories permitted by the Department of Health. Other categories will be performed at the hospital..