In fact, experts say that the age from 8-16 is the golden period for children to have braces when necessary. The reason is because this is the time when baby teeth are replaced, permanent teeth have fully grown but are not yet really stable, and the jawbone is not as strong as when they are adults. All of the above factors are very good conditions for the braces process for 8-year-old children to take place smoothly, easily, quickly and bring high efficiency.
1. Should an 8-year-old child have braces?
According to experts in orthodontics, the period when children are between the ages of 7 and 16 is the golden time to start the orthodontic process. At this time, baby teeth are being replaced by permanent teeth, and if they do not grow evenly, braces will help children have a beautiful smile, balanced jaw development, and bring many benefits in the future.
Accordingly, braces for 8-year-old children are very suitable because this is the time when baby teeth have been replaced but permanent teeth and jaw bones are not really strong and stable. This creates extremely favorable conditions for the braces process to take place quickly and bring the best results.
However, the time for braces for children is only relative, depending on the child’s development. Because in reality, there are 8-year-old children who have started to change teeth but some children are later. To know exactly whether 8-year-old children should have braces or not, parents should take their children to the BIK international clinic for examination and specific advice based on the child’s oral condition.
2. When is it necessary for an 8-year-old child to have braces?
When detecting that the child is experiencing one of the following conditions, parents should take the child to the dentist as soon as possible for timely treatment.
2.1. Braces for buck teeth for 8-year-old children
Brace for buck teeth is a condition in which the upper jaw protrudes too much compared to the lower jaw, causing an unsightly appearance to the face, especially when viewed from the side. The cause is that the teeth are too large and the jawbone is not wide enough for the teeth to grow, or when replacing teeth, the baby teeth fall out too early before the permanent teeth grow, leading to misalignment of the teeth.
2.2. Braces for buck teeth for 8-year-old children
Brace for buck teeth is a condition in which the lower jaw covers the upper jaw. This condition is easily seen with the naked eye because when viewed from the side, the chin is seen to protrude more, and when viewed from the front, the face looks “broken”. The cause may be that the upper jaw is less developed than the lower jaw or due to a disorder in the teething process.
2.4. Gap braces for 8-year-old children
Gap braces are a condition in which the teeth on the same jaw grow quite far apart, creating many gaps between the teeth. Not only affecting aesthetics, the condition of gap teeth makes it easy for food particles to accumulate in the gaps between the teeth. If not cleaned thoroughly, bacteria will grow and develop, causing a number of other serious diseases.
2.5. Misaligned bite
This is a case of misalignment of the upper and lower teeth or both jaws not fitting together. Misaligned bites are divided into many different types: Open bite, deep bite and overbite. Each form will have relatively different manifestations, but all make chewing more difficult, which can also affect the digestive system.
3. Why should children have braces early?
Early braces for children at the age of 8 will bring the following benefits:
3.1. Minimize oral diseases later on
Oral hygiene will become easier after braces, which will limit plaque formation on the tooth surface, preventing bacteria from growing and attacking, causing some oral diseases for children.
3.2. Improve chewing function
The standard bite obtained after braces will make chewing and grinding food easier, no more pain or fatigue in the jaw, and help children eat more deliciously. In addition, the digestive system is now more stable because the food has been crushed before entering the stomach. From there, overall health is improved, creating favorable conditions for children to develop comprehensively in both physical and mental aspects.
3.3. Improve aesthetics
Braces help misaligned teeth return to the correct position on the jaw and the misaligned bite is corrected. This helps the face become more harmonious and balanced, giving the child a completely new look in terms of smile as well as the overall face.
4. Which method of braces is suitable for 8-year-old children?
Parents can choose one of the following methods to start the braces process for 8-year-old children:
4.1. Removable braces for children
Removable braces are braces that can be easily removed and inserted for convenience in eating, caring for, cleaning teeth and ensuring aesthetics when necessary. This method is used to correct or prevent some conditions such as protruding teeth, buck teeth, underbite, misaligned bite,… at a mild level.
Removable braces for children include types such as: 2×4 braces, Twinblock braces, Headgear braces, Quad-helix/Wilson expansion braces. Each type is used for different dental conditions as prescribed by the doctor.
4.2. Braces for children with fixed braces
Fixed braces are an orthodontic method that is highly effective for both adults and children in cases of buck teeth, underbite, misalignment,… at all levels from simple to complex. The mechanism of this method is to use the tightening force of the archwire system, brackets and orthodontic elastics to help teeth move to the correct position on the jaw.
Fixed braces are divided into many types such as: Metal braces, ceramic braces,… Each type is divided into conventional braces and self-ligating braces. In which, conventional braces use orthodontic elastic bands to fix the archwire to the braces, this structure creates a strong tightening force to help the braces process take place quickly. Self-ligating braces are designed with a sliding groove system on the surface of the braces to fix the archwire. At this time, the archwire can slide freely according to the movement of the teeth, creating a stable and continuous tightening force to bring the desired orthodontic effect.
4.3. Braces for children with Invisalign clear aligners
Instead of using conventional orthodontic appliances, Invisalign clear aligners use aligners made of transparent plastic. The aligners are designed to be personalized to fit the teeth so they become almost invisible when worn, providing absolute aesthetics throughout the orthodontic process.
Currently, Invisalign braces provide Invisalign clear orthodontic treatment suitable for many subjects, including children aged 5-10 with mild tooth misalignment.
5. Parents should note when braces for 8-year-old children
When deciding to have braces for an 8-year-old child, parents should note the following:
5.1. Choosing the right method
At this age, parents also have a variety of options for braces for children as listed above. Each method has different advantages and disadvantages and is suitable for certain oral conditions. Parents should consult a specialist when choosing the right braces method to bring the best orthodontic results.
5.2. Choosing a reputable dental clinic
The doctor’s skills are the direct factor in determining whether the orthodontic process is successful or not. Therefore, choosing to perform braces at a reputable dental facility with a team of experts and highly qualified doctors is very important to ensure the safety of the child throughout the treatment process. In addition, the dental clinic also needs to be equipped with modern machinery and technology to support the doctor to help the treatment become faster and minimize the pain of the child.
5.3. Reasonable diet
Braces in children or adults have more or less influence on daily diet. Therefore, parents need to pay attention to building a suitable diet for children based on the doctor’s instructions to ensure adequate nutrition, not affecting the movement of teeth during treatment.
The first 1-2 weeks after braces are attached, the mouth and molars become especially sensitive because they have not yet adapted to the braces, so eating hard foods will cause pain and difficulty in chewing. Therefore, parents should prioritize giving their children soft, small, and well-cooked foods during these days.
5.4. Pay attention to proper oral hygiene
The uncomfortable feeling of wearing braces makes most people tend to ignore daily oral hygiene, especially in young children. This can easily lead to dental problems such as gingivitis, periodontitis, tooth decay, bad breath, etc.
At this time, parents need to help by reminding and supervising children to brush their teeth properly at least 3 times a day, especially after eating and before going to bed. In addition, parents can guide their children to use a combination of specialized oral hygiene tools such as water flossers, dental floss, interdental brushes, etc. to clean the entire tooth surface, especially the area with braces.
6. Where is a reputable place to get braces for 8-year-old children?
Like adults, braces for children are a difficult technique, requiring high precision and absolute safety to avoid affecting the child’s oral health later on.
BIK International Dental Clinic is always proud to be a dental address that many parents trust to choose to accompany their children. With all the necessary conditions, BIK International Dental Clinic can bring peace of mind and satisfaction to customers when using the service:
6.1. Highly qualified doctors
When choosing to have braces for children at BIK International Dental Clinic, from the examination, consultation to treatment, all stages will be performed directly by good, highly qualified doctors with experience in braces for children. With in-depth experience, dexterity, meticulousness and dedication to the profession, the doctors are committed to ensuring safety above all else, while bringing high orthodontic efficiency after the end of the course.
6.2. Equipped with modern technology
BIK International Dental Clinic also focuses on investing in modern equipment, machinery and technology to support doctors to help the process of braces for children take place quickly, safely, bring the highest efficiency and minimize pain for children.
6.3. International standard braces process
When choosing BIK International Dental Clinic, each child will have a separate braces process that is most suitable for their oral condition to bring the highest orthodontic efficiency. But the entire process is guaranteed to meet international standards, fully complying with the requirements of sterilization and disinfection to avoid cross-infection.
So if you observe that the teeth tend to grow unevenly or in the wrong position, then 8 years old is considered the golden time for children to have braces. To ensure absolute safety and avoid complications for children’s oral health later in adulthood, parents should consider choosing braces for 8-year-old children at a reputable dental facility with a team of experienced doctors to bring the best results.
