What Do I Need to Know About Dental Braces?
If you’ve just received news that your child may need dental braces, you probably have a lot of questions. The more you know about braces, the better the experience can be for both you and your child.
Here are eight important items to consider if your child needs dental braces.
8 Things to Know About Dental Braces
If your child is in need of braces, it’s important for you to understand the following:
- The price of braces can vary—The type of braces, condition of your child’s teeth, location of service, and age of patient are just some of the things that can affect the cost of braces.
- There are multiple types of braces—If your child needs braces, you have the option to choose from metal braces, ceramic braces, braces that go on the inside part of your teeth, and even removable braces. Your child’s dentist or orthodontist will be able to help you decide which is best for your kid.
- Braces do more than straighten teeth—In addition to straightening teeth, braces can also help align your child’s bite.
- You can get a quote for the cost of braces treatment—Kool Smiles offers no-cost consultations for children who may need braces. During this appointment your dentist or orthodontist will give an estimate of how much the braces treatment will cost.
- Your child may need to wear braces for a while—Depending on what treatment your child needs, he or she may need to wear braces for a while. Braces may need to to stay on the teeth for anywhere between 18 months to a few years.
-
Good oral hygiene becomes even more important—With braces, your child must brush his or her teeth several times per day to keep food out of the brackets. Here are some foods that your child should and shouldn’t eat when wearing braces:
- Braces may be uncomfortable at first—Usually, braces will cause some discomfort for a short period of time. However, your child’s teeth will get used to the pressure of being pulled by the braces within a couple of days.
- Your child isn’t done when the braces come off—Your child will likely have to wear a retainer for a period of time before his or her teeth are all set.
The more you know about braces, the better you and your child can prepare. With this information in mind, you can speak to your child’s dentist or orthodontist and ask any important questions you may have.
If you need to find a dentist or orthodontist for your child, contact Kool Smiles. We offer no-cost, braces consultations and many of our offices provide orthodontic services. In the event that the office near you doesn’t offer braces, we will be happy to refer you to an orthodontist nearby.
———-
Sources:
Why Braces: http://www.whybraces.com/how-long-do-you-need-to-wear-braces/
OralB: http://www.oralb.com/embraceit/how-much-do-braces-cost