Braces for Kids in Beaufort, South Carolina

As a parent, you have watched your child’s mouth develop from a gummy smile to getting their first tooth and losing their first tooth. There are smile phases that your child goes through, and it is fantastic to see each one happen. Along with these phases, eventually, your child will enter into the stage where orthodontic care might be needed. Throughout this post, we will be discussing braces for kids in Beaufort, South Carolina and all the things parents need to know about early orthodontics.

At Coastal Orthodontics, along with the American Dental Association, we suggest that a child receive an initial orthodontic evaluation by the age of seven. This is generally the age when most, if not all, baby teeth will start falling out and adult teeth will be growing in. While getting an evaluation for your child at this age, the orthodontist will be able to detect any alignment issues.

When Should My Child Start Wearing Braces?

Although it is wise to have your child first seen by our orthodontic professional at the age of seven, that doesn’t necessarily mean they will be at the right age for braces. If braces are recommended for your child at an early age, it is customary to wait to exercise braces treatment until the 12-year-old molars have erupted.

No child’s smile is the same. Therefore the length of the orthodontic treatment plan will vary for each patient, depending on their specific case.

Braces Options for Kids

By using the most updated orthodontic technology and by staying informed, Coastal Orthodontics is always searching for ways to increase the quality and comfort of your treatments and visits. There are two main types of braces available at our dental office in Beaufort, South Carolina, for kids. These include:

Metal Braces: These are the most common braces chosen by the younger patients that we see in our office. Traditional metal braces are made of stainless steel metal appliances such as brackets and archwires. These two appliances, along with others, push and pull the teeth to correct alignment and malocclusions. Many children are drawn to metal braces because they are customizable through the use of colored rubber bands that are placed on each bracket.

Ceramic Braces: These braces are very similar to metal braces in look and how they work. The difference between these two are materials used in the appliances. The semi-translucent brackets and wires will allow patients to enjoy straightening their teeth more subtly.

How Will I Know What is Best for My Child?

Each child and their smiles are different. At Coastal Orthodontics, we recognize this and celebrate it! At each consultation appointment, we work closely with you and your child in learning about their oral specifics. We will help you decide which option is best for your child’s smile by gaining information and taking impressions and molds of the teeth.

You will be greatly benefiting your child’s smile and oral health by taking them for an orthodontic consultation and deciding on treatment that is recommended. Some of the main benefits of braces for kids include:

Correction of misaligned bites such as overbites, crossbites, and underbites.
Braces correct crooked teeth. When teeth are crooked, patients might have difficulty chewing or speaking.
Braces are known for enhancing the aesthetics of smiles.