The very thought of tooth-braces brings to our mind a picture of an awkward teenager trying to deal with a mouth full of brackets and wires. However, it is not just teens who need braces. People of all age groups now wear braces. Most people are also curious about the right age for wearing braces. It is a common belief that if a person starts wearing braces at a proper age, it can quickly correct their dental structure.
What are Dental Braces?
Orthodontists use dental braces to correct misaligned or crowded teeth. It is a wire-based appliance generally used by teenagers. These days many adults also use braces to correct the alignment of their teeth. Dental braces can correct the alignment of crooked teeth allowing you to bite and smile properly.
Why are Dental-braces necessary?
Dental braces are necessary for several reasons. In kids, pediatric crowns can be used for correcting cavities, crooked, or cracked teeth, whereas braces can fix crooked teeth, malocclusion, overlapping teeth, etc. For teenagers and adults, a dentist usually suggests braces to enhance one’s facial appearance. If conditions like overbites, crowded teeth, underbites, or incorrect jawline are left untreated for a long time, it can lead to tooth decay, headache, earaches, and sometimes even gum diseases.
Is There any Age Limit for getting Braces?
There is no age limit for getting dental braces. Most people believe that childhood is the best time to correct misaligned teeth or jawline. However, in recent times more and more teens and adults are opting for braces after orthodontic treatment. According to a study, a large number of teenagers today are choosing dental aligners for better oral health.
According to the American Association of Orthodontists-“there is a high number of patients fitted with dental braces every day over the age of 18”. Although there is no age limit when it comes to getting braces, there are certain things that one must keep in mind. Since braces are meant for the permanent teeth, using it too early can cause discomfort to a child.
How are Dental Braces for Kids different from those of Adults and Teens
Usually, Dental Braces are all the same. The ones which are made for kids are no different from the ones made for teenagers or adults. Braces do not differ according to a patient’s age. Braces are specifically crafted for fitting into an individual’s mouth. Therefore, all braces are easily customizable according to space in one’s mouth, size and number of teeth, etc.
However, people of different age groups have different sets of social and psychological reactions when it comes to getting braces. For children, it is both simple and complicated at the same time. Some children might find wearing braces an exciting experience, and they can easily adjust to it. For some, braces can be a painful experience. Therefore, the best way to start the procedure with a child is to discuss it with him and make him aware of the healthy expectations of wearing braces.
Teenagers and adults are more self-conscious about how they look. Therefore they usually tend to go for invisible braces or Invisalign instead of the normal ones. These braces are less noticeable and transparent.
How much do Dental Braces cost?
Usually, Dental Braces are not very expensive. The cost of wearing a brace rests upon the adjustments made to it and the period for which one wears it. There is a common link between all these factors. If more changes are made to it, the cost goes up. A regular visit to an orthodontist can also be very costly. People with gum disease or weakened gum require dental braces with extra adjustments. These additional adjustments can make the whole process an expensive affair.
What is the Ideal Age for Braces?
Technically speaking, there is no ideal age for getting braces. However, braces work better and faster in children than in adults. A child’s teeth are more movable and can be easily adjusted. So braces can take a shorter time to fix their teeth. With adults, the time-period goes up because their mouth is broader, and the teeth and jawline are stronger. At times, adults also have several teeth and gum disease, which render the dental braces partly ineffective.
The best time to get the braces is after the child loses his baby teeth, and most of his permanent teeth are out. It is a lot easier to cure crooked teeth or jawline in a young child compared to a teenager. There is no specific age for children when it comes to wearing braces, but according to most orthodontists, the range varies from 6-10 years old. Choosing the right orthodontist for your child is very important. Once the initial x-rays of the mouth and the jaw is complete, the orthodontist will fit the braces into your child’s mouth accordingly.
However, parents must take care of the oral hygiene of a child wearing braces. Since a person has to wear braces for a long time, it can cause bad breath. The braces must be appropriately cleaned, and both children and adults must follow all the necessary steps carefully once they start wearing these braces.
