Early & Teen Orthodontic Care in Battle Creek
At Bandeen Orthodontics of Battle Creek, we believe that proper orthodontic care should be for everyone—and that includes teens and early bloomers. That being said, many parents and guardians haven’t had braces for years, and the technology and attitudes around braces have changed over time. As a result, there may be new practices or standards of care for youth today that differ from what parents and guardians remember. For that reason, we’re taking today’s blog post to discuss braces and orthodontic care we offer for early and teen patients, as well as what they can do at home to ensure the best results possible.
Early (7-11 Years) Orthodontic Care: An Overview
Something essential to be noted about early orthodontic care is that most kids who have braces when they’re 7-10 years old will likely need to get braces twice. As you might expect, this is because children around this age tend to have baby teeth remaining, which should eventually fall out and make way for their adult teeth.
With this in mind, you may be asking yourself: why would someone ever get early orthodontic care for their child? Well, there are a few reasons:
- Significantly Undesirable Appearance: If a child is feeling significantly self-conscious about the appearance of their baby teeth, early braces may be the most ethical option.
- Pain or Dental Damage: The baby teeth are causing pain, discomfort, or medical complications.
- Airway Issues: The child experiences sleep apnea or other difficulties breathing due to their teeth or structure of their mouth.
Even if your child isn’t experiencing any of these symptoms, the American Association of Orthodontists recommends that you bring your child in for an examination at the age of 7 to catch orthodontic issues as early as possible.
Teen (12-17 Years) Orthodontic Care: New Advancements
No matter the medical advancement, perhaps it’s just a fact of life that young people won’t exactly be looking forward to getting braces—and who can blame them? We at Bandeen Orthodontics stand by our braces and orthodontic care, and we acknowledge that getting braces can sound like a frightening idea at first. However, technology has come a long way, and modern orthodontic care is the least invasive and most effective it has ever been. Instead of palatal expanders and Herbst appliances—which can appear uncomfortable to those who’ve never had braces—teens these days can instead rely on technology like Invisalign, which are nearly impossible to see and are much more comfortable.
Are you interested in getting proper orthodontic care for your child or teen when they need it most? If so, our team at Bandeen Orthodontics of Battle Creek is elated to help you. Contact us today for more information.
