It’s necessary to establish good dental habits from early childhood in order to ensure proper care, healthy teeth and a nice smile. Every parent’s role is to carefully monitor their child’s growth and progress as well as to deal with any upcoming issues. Different problems with teeth alignment can cause all kinds of problems — that’s why it’s absolutely vital to address them as soon as you notice them. For starters, we should make some things clear, as many parents are not familiar with the term orthodontist as well as its importance. Keep reading to learn more about who an orthodontist is, why your child might need to see one, when is the ideal time for the first orthodontist visit as well as what types of braces there are.

1. Who is an orthodontist?

An orthodontist is a dentist who has completed a specialization in the field of orthodontics — the way teeth and jaw line up. Their job is to prevent or modify issues with teeth and jaw alignment. It’s important to emphasize that even though a child might visit an orthodontist at the age of 7, it doesn’t necessarily mean that any treatment will start immediately as normally, all adult teeth need to have erupted already. The eruption of adult teeth varies for every child. Even though some dentists can also perform certain orthodontics analyses as well as procedures, remember that orthodontists have much more knowledge and expertise in the area.

2. Why your child might need to see an orthodontist

There are numerous reasons why a child might need to see an orthodontist, the usual being underbite, overbite, or any other disorder caused by improper teeth or jawline alignment. A prompt visit to an orthodontist can also help your child achieve a nicer smile. If teeth or jaws are not aligned properly, your child might experience different problems such as gum damage, tooth decay, or even speech problems. Sometimes, even simple tooth cleaning can be impeded by misaligned teeth. As far as the treatments are concerned, orthodontists use various types including braces, plates and different kinds of headwear, depending on the type and severity of the issue. A prompt visit to a certified orthodontist can help you prevent all these issues.  

3. When is the ideal time for an orthodontist visit

This is a frequent question many parents ask. As already briefly mentioned, experts suggest that your child should visit an orthodontist at the age of 7, as a vast majority of kids have their molars at that age. However, most orthodontic treatments usually begin between the ages of 9 and 14, even though there are some dental issues that can benefit from early treatment. Seeing an orthodontist at an early age can help due to early examination and detection of potential issues. It also allows for the most appropriate treatment and optimal time for best results. You shouldn’t overlook the need for an orthodontist visit as it can help your child benefit in so many ways, as different tooth problems can cause various problems in further life, including low self-confidence.

4. Types of braces

Braces, plates and different headwear are some of the most popular techniques for dealing with various dental issues. They are chosen according to the type of problem as well as its severity. There are three main types of braces: fixed labial braces, lingual braces and Invisalign braces.  

Fixed labial braces are the most frequent ones. They are the traditional braces put on the outside of your teeth.

Lingual braces, on the other hand, are placed on the inside of teeth, making them invisible to other people. They are not so common for children, but they are a great option for a future actor or model.

And finally, Invisalign is a new design of teeth alignment, which aren’t braces per se. They are custom-made clear aligners. They are discreet, comfortable to wear and you can also remove them for some special occasions or while eating.

Parents should take their children for regular dentist and orthodontist checkups, as by doing that from an early age, they get their kids used to it and emphasize the importance of taking care of their teeth.