Lethbridge Child Braces

Is my child growing and developing properly?

“The days of metal braces are over. You can relax - if your child needs braces, they can be virtually invisible.”

Your child’s oral health … know the facts!

You are a parent and naturally your child’s health and well-being are your number one priority. You take them for regular doctor’s appointment, you protect them from harm’s way whenever you can and you want the best for them in every area of their life.

Now that they are growing, you are worried their smile isn’t developing properly. You want to ensure, if treatment is required, that you get a jump on the problem and begin correcting it immediately.

- Are you being overly paranoid?
- Is your child too young for you to really tell if there are problems?
- Should you wait for braces until your child is older?

Read on … we think you’ll be interested in these facts!

If your child’s mouth seems too small or their teeth are jammed together, there could be a significant issue that needs addressing. The crowding of teeth often indicates a problem with normal facial growth and development.

The majority of adult teeth do not grow into position until the age of twelve or thirteen, however 90% of facial growth is completed by age twelve. Therefore if you wait for adult teeth to come in before you start orthodontic treatment - the majority of the damage has already been done.

By the age of twelve, many facial development problems are very difficult to correct unless you plan on surgery… which everyone wants to avoid.

Do you want your child to have straight teeth or a beautiful face?
Why not both?

When your child is twelve (or adults of any age for that matter) you can still straighten teeth with braces but the facial proportions are pretty much set unless you consider surgery. That’s why the American Dental Association recommends that all children have an orthodontic examination before age 8.

Early examination and treatment can prevent and/or minimize the treatments required to correct many orthodontic problems and restore normal facial growth patterns.

Download our Braces Predictor here

The most accurate way to determine if your child will need braces is to first know if they are growing correctly. The small, blue, SmileArtist cosmetic line finder is actually a very useful tool to predict if your child's face is developing normally. Simply follow the instructions included. If your child's facial growth appears normal with the small blue finder and you are happy with the appearance of your child's teeth then braces may not be required.

We all want the best for our children. Ensure your child receives the best care possible. If your child does need braces, Dr. Lachman can help you determine which type will be best suited for your child’s needs.