Start Early: Teeth Aligning for Kids

Braces are quickly becoming a norm for children worldwide. Most parents want their children to have straight teeth. Not only for aesthetic reasons but because there are medical and health reasons that encourage healthy teeth.

The process of fixing the bite and structure of teeth is known as teeth alignment. There are two options to improve the design of teeth – either with braces or with aligners. Each one has its benefits and downsides, and which one you choose depends on how severe the condition is and how long it will take to fix.

Most children receive their first aligners or braces at the age of about seven years old. The sooner, the better because young teeth that are correctly aligned will keep their location for longer and help the child live a healthy dental life in their later years.

Difference Between Braces and Aligners

Most parents are still more inclined to search for braces simply because clear aligners were not popular in their time. However, medical advancements have provided families with more options. To help parents make the right decision, let’s look at the difference between braces and aligners.

Conventional Braces

Conventional braces have changed a lot over the years. They are now less visible than before and generally easier to apply and maintain.

Doctors install them with small brackets made of either porcelain or metal to each tooth individually. They connect each bracket with a wire, which is tightened or loosened as the straightening process continues.

However, even though they are well-known, braces have several disadvantages:

• It takes a lot longer to brush teeth properly.
• A typical toothbrush will not do the job and may even damage gums.
• Replacing the brackets is a painful process, and this is also true for the monthly adjustment visit.
• You have to pay every time you go to the dentist for adjustments.
• Food can quickly build up between the brackets and wires.

Clear Aligners

Clear aligners are a more modern and discrete orthodontic treatment. There are no brackets or wires involved, and they can correct mild to moderate issues.

They also require monthly or bi-monthly appointments. However, your child will simply receive a new aligner to match the latest point of receiving straight teeth. It is painless, and children adapt to it quickly.

There are several other advantages to consider when choosing ‘invisible braces’:

• The orthodontic treatment of straight teeth is faster than with conventional braces.
• Children find it easier to accept and handle.
• More manageable for children to maintain tooth hygiene.

Popular Teeth Aligners for Kids

Choosing the correct teeth aligners for your child is not easy when there are so many options available. However, if the goal is to have straight teeth, you must do some research to ensure that the teeth aligners will suit the child and make a difference.

Byte

The Byte Dental Network is one of the most comprehensive choices around. With over 200 licensed doctors, care is available seven days a week.

Their exclusive HyperByte® Invisalign for kids is FDA approved and known to provide straight teeth in half the time that conventional braces would. They also offer numerous payment options to help parents provide their children with the best care without ruining the family budget.

Alignerco

In the current COVID situation, Alignerco is a unique way to help your children get straight teeth. The process doesn’t require an initial visit to the dentist, saving parents both time and money.

Here’s the process:

1. Order the at-home impression kit – currently, on special offer for $39.99, this impression kit allows parents to make a mold of their childrens’ teeth and send it back to the Alignerco team.
2. Development of customized invisible braces – the doctors take over from here and create aligners that will suit your child.
3. Start wearing the new aligners – they will be delivered to your home address, and for just $95/month, your child can begin the process of getting straight teeth.

Candid

Candid is another brand that offers specialized treatment in times of COVID. One of their best features is that they provide remote monitoring for invisible braces, meaning that you don’t have to travel to the dentist for a check-up all the time.

Here’s how it works:

1. Visit a Candid Studio – head on over to your nearest studio so that your child can get a check-up and a free scan of their teeth.
2. Doctors will assess your child’s case – they assess each child individually, and you will receive a 3D preview when the Invisalign for kids is ready.
3. They will send the aligners to your address – you don’t have to leave the house to pick them up, and if you have any questions along the way, you can always give them a call.

Why Your Child Should Get Invisalign for Kids Early

Minor oral problems that start early in life can become a huge issue when the child grows up. Starting early, usually from the age of seven, the doctor can address any issue that your child may have. Corrections will no longer be possible later in life as the child’s face and jaw stop growing. Once this happens, the ability to correct a child’s teeth is limited.

If you feel that your child may need orthodontic help, it is best to take them to a doctor as soon as possible.

Here are a few more reasons why this is a good idea:

• It will create enough room in a child’s mouth to prevent crowded teeth.
• Teeth correction will improve the child’s facial symmetry.
• Your child will not have to deal with protruding front teeth.
• You will be able to correct a bad bite before it turns into a much bigger problem.
• Healthy teeth significantly reduce the possibility of gum disease and chipping.

Preconditions for Clear Aligners

For a child to wear teeth aligners, the doctor must first recognize that the child has all the necessary preconditions for aligners. Preconditions help the doctor determine which aligners are best suited for your child, and it also helps them understand whether aligners are truly necessary in your child’s case.

Doctors categorize these preconditions under the generic term of malocclusion – a situation where your child’s teeth are not aligned properly. When your child bites, there is a misalignment of the upper and lower dental arch.

The misalignment can come in two forms:

1. An overbite, which is when the upper teeth fall over the bottom teeth.
2. An underbite, which is when the lower teeth fall over the upper teeth.

Both situations have their problems, and if a doctor doesn’t correct them in early childhood, they may cause painful gums and crooked teeth later in life.

The Best Decisions for Parents to Make

Although aligners may not be the first thing that parents worry about, now that you know all the problems that can arise from them, it is best to act as soon as possible.

When your child first visits their dentist, enquire about the current condition of their teeth. Ask about the child’s bite, how the teeth are aligned, and if there is a likelihood that the doctor will need to correct your child’s teeth in the future.

The sooner you react to a potential problem, the easier it will be for your child to live a happier and healthier future. There are many financial aids available for aligners. Many insurance plans will cover them, so you can rest assured that the whole family will benefit from fixing any potential dental problems early in life.