A popular question we get asked at Epsom Dentists is “should my kids get braces?”
At Epsom Dentists we are New Zealand’s top Invisalign dealer and many of our patients are children so we will naturally always recommend braces either clear braces such as Invisalign or metal braces however first of all, let us look at the logic behind these decisions and discuss children’s braces and the pros and cons for getting them fitted and not getting them fitted.
No 1. Health and Safety of your child
The first thing to consider is health and safety of the child. If your child’s mouth has crowded teeth, this makes cleaning the teeth much harder and therefore could lead to fillings and gum diseases as time progresses. Crooked teeth have many pockets where food accumulates and this makes it much harder to reach with a tooth brush. As a result you will require more trips to the dentists to get the teeth cleaned correctly. Other issues occur also such as bad breath and unsightly colouring around the worst affected areas.
No 2. Your Child’s Appearance
The second consideration is what will your child look like when they start to mature. Knowing how cruel kids can be to each other can lead to comments such as “vampire teeth” and “fang face” which is hurtful to children and can cause a lack of confidence. Also as they get ready for the very competitive job market having a fine set of teeth will also help with self-confidence and job prospects. Believe it or not, people do tend to judge others by the appearance of their teeth.
No 3. A child’s mouth is more flexible
Another consideration relates to the ease of which children’s teeth can be straightened due to the young bone structure which is more flexible. It is easier to straighten a young person’s teeth than a developed adult
No 4. The financial cost
Another consideration could be to do with the finances. Parents paying for children’s teeth to be straightened a fantastic gift, although the child may not think it at the time. The writer for one is very thankful that his parents had the foresight to straighten my teeth when I was a child as the benefits for me today are outstanding.
We hope this has been helpful for you and please feel free to contact Epsom Dentists if you have any questions about getting braces for your children.
