You may think it’s obvious when someone needs orthodontic treatment, but it isn’t always easy to see. Just because a person doesn’t have a huge overbite or crooked teeth doesn’t mean they don’t need braces! Some signs you need braces are easier to detect than others.
Ohana Orthodontics knows that signs of a bad bite can be subtle and include things you might not associate with your teeth, such as headaches, neck pain, and even breathing issues. Do you know how to know if you need braces? What is the best age for braces? Ohana Orthodontics can help!
How Do I Know If I Need Braces?
What are the signs you need braces? The most obvious one is crooked teeth, although a large overbite can also be a good sign. Some overbites aren’t big, but they can still be big enough to cause dental problems.
How do you know if you need braces? Here are some signs you need braces:
- Early loose tooth
- The tooth falls out early
- Baby teeth are crooked
- The tooth erupts late
- The tooth erupts crookedly
- Breathing through the mouth
- Biting one’s tongue or cheek often
- Popping the jaw, especially while talking or eating
- Thumbsucking habit beyond 2 years old
- Tongue thrusting habit
- Misaligned jaws or teeth
- Open bite
- Underbite
- Overbite
- Impacted teeth (embedded in the gums or palate)
At What Age Do Kids Get Braces?
The signs of needing braces can start early, even before your child gets their permanent teeth. Baby teeth can show signs that your child will need braces, especially if they come in crooked, too early or too late, or not at all.
At what age do kids get braces? It depends on the type of treatment they need. In some cases, early interceptive treatment can prevent orthodontic treatments from getting worse. In other cases, your child may not need early treatment but may need braces or Invisalign when the time is right.
The American Association of Orthodontists recommends that children consult with an orthodontist by age 7. By this time, the baby teeth are in and the permanent teeth are starting to erupt. This gives the orthodontist a relatively clear picture of your child’s teeth and jaws developing and erupting properly.
Do children get braces on the first visit? They usually won’t get braces until about 11-13. However, early intervention can occur sooner, by age 7-9. This is a two-phase orthodontic treatment.
What Is Two-Phase Treatment?
Phase I Braces Treatment stops bad habits or corrects dental problems to prevent them from getting worse. In some cases, Phase I treatment is all the patient needs, but most patients move on to Phase II Braces Treatment a few years later.
Phase I treatment can include using a palate expander to widen the upper jaw, a tongue crib to reposition the thumb and prevent tongue thrust against the top incisors, or other dental appliances to stop the child from thumbsucking, which can damage their teeth.
Consider early Phase 1 treatment as training for the final event — Phase 2 Braces treatment. That final event is usually treatment with braces or clear aligners, a couple of years after Phase I treatment begins and months after it ends.
Why do we wait for Phase II braces? One reason is your child’s baby teeth. The baby teeth are still falling out, and the permanent teeth are still coming in at ages 7-9 when Phase I treatment begins.
But by ages 11-13, most of the baby teeth are out, and the permanent teeth, including the molars, are in. Once the permanent molars are in, we can attach braces bands to them and put braces on the rest of the teeth.
Why get two-phase braces treatment? Early intervention can prevent dental problems from worsening, so your child may not wear braces or clear aligners as long as they would without Phase I treatment.
What Can Braces Fix?
What can braces fix in your child? Braces can repair many dental problems, including:
- Overbite
- Underbite
- Crossbite
- Deep bite
- Open bite
- Gap teeth
- Crowded teeth
Some of these may be more obvious than others, and many dental issues worsen over time. That’s why it’s important to have your child’s teeth checked as early as possible.
How Much Do Braces Cost?
How much do children’s braces cost? The cost depends on the type of treatment and the number and severity of dental issues. We will determine the price after thoroughly examining your child’s teeth and jaws during your first visit.
Ohana Orthodontics wants your child’s orthodontic treatment to be affordable to your family, no matter what type of treatment they receive. That’s why we have several financing options available.
We offer in-house, interest-free financing with extended payment options and accept all major credit cards and insurance plans. We also offer third-party financing through CareCredit, a healthcare credit card that can cover health-related costs not covered by insurance.
At Ohana Orthodontics, we want your child’s treatment to be successful and affordable.
Braces Treatment in Canby, OR
Orthodontic treatment should start as early as possible to prevent dental problems from getting worse. Does your child have signs that they need braces? Ohana Orthodontics in Canby, OR, can find out if they do.
Schedule an appointment with Ohana Orthodontics for your child’s first braces exam. We’ll let you know if your child needs braces treatment or if their smile is ready!
