Moms want the best for their children — especially when it comes to their health and happiness. And for many, the pre-teen years often bring one particular treatment to mind: braces!
What you may not know is that orthodontics isn’t just about optimizing the appearance of the smile. A beautiful smile is the result of correcting the orthodontic issues below the surface!
Let’s break down everything you need to know about braces for kids, from signs your child may need them to how much kids’ braces cost, and when to schedule their first evaluation.
Does my child need braces?
The first step in deciding whether your child needs braces is scheduling their complimentary consultation with our highly-experienced San Antonio orthodontist, Dr. Senties!
While some signs and symptoms of orthodontic issues are apparent, others are pretty sneaky and require a trained eye to detect. We offer complimentary consultations, because we want you and your kiddo to have access to a professional assessment, with no pressure.
In the meantime, here are some common indicators that a child needs orthodontics:
- Crooked or crowded teeth: If you notice your child’s teeth are overlapping or growing toward each other, it’s important to start intervention with braces treatment.
- Bite issues: Overbites, underbites, and crossbites can affect how your child eats and speaks. They can cause jaw pain and an imbalanced facial appearance, and can require jaw surgery when left untreated.
- Early or late loss of baby teeth: Losing baby teeth too early or too late can cause spacing problems in permanent teeth.
- Thumb-sucking: Habits like thumb-sucking can impact your child’s jaw and teeth alignment over time. Thumb-sucking can also cause teeth to protrude forward and/or an open bite.
- Difficulty chewing or speaking: Misaligned teeth can make everyday tasks like eating or talking more challenging.
- Jaw pain or clicking: If your child’s jaw feels sore or clicks when they open their mouth, it may indicate alignment issues that braces could resolve.
If you notice any of these signs, book a complimentary consultation with Dr. Senties!
What is the best age to get braces?
According to the American Association of Orthodontists, children should receive their first orthodontic screening by age 7.
Not every child needs orthodontics at that age, but those who do will benefit from early intervention for a lifetime. This doesn’t mean that orthodontic treatment will begin at age 7, though. Every child is different and every smile develops at a unique rate. Getting braces at age 7, 8, 9 or 10 is common!
Here’s why:
While braces can be life-changing at any age, getting braces in childhood (if necessary) while the jaws are still developing is most efficient. This approach allows us to minimize treatment length, minimize discomfort for your little one, and prevent vital challenges.
Conditions that are left untreated into adulthood, or even into the teen years, can lead to further conditions and challenges, and require invasive methods (like jaw surgery) and extended treatment lengths to correct.
When you bring your child in for an orthodontic screening before or at age 7, Dr. Senties is able to develop a custom plan that treats these conditions while the jaws are still developing, instead of treating them after the bones have developed and stabilized.
Prevention is key!
Most orthodontic conditions are preventable – but only if addressed at the right time.
Children’s mouths may be small, but their orthodontic issues are complex! Many conditions are caused by space issues in the width of the jaws – whether there’s not enough room in the jaws for all teeth to emerge without crowding, overlapping or impacting each other, or too much space in the jaw, which leads to spaced or gapped teeth.
Through preemptive orthodontics, we can address spacing issues right away, guiding the jaw bones to grow to the proper width, before they potentially cause a bite misalignment (overbite/underbite) and require more extensive treatment.
This may include an orthodontic appliance, like the palatal expander, to prepare the jaw bones for a beautiful set of permanent teeth to emerge, followed by braces to align the smile.
Braces for kids: What are their options?
Kids have different styles, and we love that! All of our patients, even our youngest, have options when it comes to types of braces.
- LightForce™ 3D-Printed custom braces: The most advanced braces on the market, LightForce brackets are each custom-designed and 3D printed to fit each individual tooth. This allows for next-level accuracy and efficiency, which can reduce treatment time by up to 40%!
- Ceramic clear braces: A more discreet form of braces, clear braces use durable ceramic brackets that blend in with your smile.
- Traditional metal braces: Most of our young patients love traditional metal braces with colored rubber bands! They can customize their braces colors at each visit for a one-of-a-kind smile.
And for our teen and adult patients, we offer clear aligners!
How much do braces for kids cost?
One of the biggest questions parents have is, “How much do braces cost for kids?” And it’s a very valid question!
The cost of braces depends on several factors, including the severity of the condition, the length of treatment and whether any appliances are used. At Senties Family Orthodontics, it’s important to us that we make quality orthodontic treatment accessible for our communities.
We offer flexible financing, including 0% interest in-house financing and financing with Sunbit Credit, to ensure that the cost of your kiddo’s treatment works for you. Sunbit approves 90% of patients with no hard credit checks and no late fees! You can see how much you pre-qualify for ahead of time, too!
Plus, insurance covers a lot more than you may think! We’ll do all of the paperwork for you to help you receive the max benefit from your plan.
Orthodontic treatment is a priceless investment in your child’s health and confidence, and we’re here to make it as stress-free and personalized for you as possible.
Do I need a referral to see an orthodontist?
Your child does not need a dentist referral to visit us, and you don’t either! You get to decide when you schedule your initial visit with us.
While your child’s dentist may refer them to us once their teeth start developing, you can go ahead and get the ball rolling on your own and benefit from early intervention.
Schedule your child’s first visit today!
We are your experienced kids orthodontist near you in Alamo Ranch, San Antonio. We’re here to help guide your little one’s smile into a beautiful, balanced, healthy smile that lasts for a lifetime.
Schedule your child’s first orthodontic screening with our pediatric orthodontist in San Antonio. Your little one’s screening is complimentary with Dr. Senties and our team.
Get started at our conveniently-located orthodontic office in Alamo Ranch, San Antonio.
