Baby Teeth To Braces: An Overview Of Pediatric Dental Journey

As children transition into teenagerhood, their smile can change significantly over time. Children often receive orthodontic therapy at some point to provide full sets of adult teeth. Parents can help establish good oral habits in their child while also getting timely relief when necessary via braces for kids by understanding this process.

Why Baby Teeth Are Important

Parents often mistake the importance of baby teeth being temporary as something to disregard as time progresses and they eventually fall out, but these first teeth play an integral part of your child’s development and should never be underestimated as such. Baby teeth serve the crucial function of speaking, chewing and positioning the jaw in its proper place – moreover they hold onto permanent ones! Loss due to decay or injury could potentially create spacing or alignment issues later.

Start taking good care of your teeth early. Start brushing your child’s first tooth (typically around six months of age) daily using a soft-bristle toothbrush with fluoride toothpaste no larger than the size of a grain of rice and continue doing this daily after their baby teeth emerge, so they maintain good oral health long into adulthood. By teaching children the importance of maintaining their baby teeth well they will enjoy life-long oral wellness!

First Dental Visits And Early Checkups

The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends that children visit a dentist by age one. Initial appointments not only help identify potential cavities; they’re also designed to identify any possible issues with your child’s bite and development as well as creating an inviting dental home where children feel secure. Pediatric dentists keep tabs on new tooth growth as it appears and provide education on food and hygiene topics to parents and guardians.

Dentists can keep tabs on children’s teeth to detect issues before they worsen by seeing you every six months for checkups, while early monitoring could even provide signs that your kid needs braces in the future.

Moving Toward Permanent Teeth 

Transition from baby teeth to adult ones typically begins around six years of age and continues for 12 or 13 years before complete dentition takes place. At that age, children begin losing their baby teeth while simultaneously growing permanent ones – this stage known as mixed dentition typically lasts until at least 12 or 13 years old.

As permanent teeth begin to emerge, issues with crowding, overbites, underbites and spacing often become apparent. A pediatric dentist may refer your child for evaluation at this stage to an orthodontist to see whether braces or early treatments might be needed.

Preliminary Orthodontic Visits And Exams

Problems with braces may begin long before all adult teeth come in, which is why it is essential for kids to visit an orthodontist by seven. A check-up might reveal issues related to how their jaw and teeth are growing together that would benefit from treatment sooner rather than later.

Space maintainers, expanders, or partial braces may be beneficial early on to promote proper jaw development, reduce crowding issues and address biting issues before they worsen. Treating issues early often results in shorter treatment duration and better outcomes later.

What Parents Should Know About Children’s Braces

Traditional braces should only be considered once all permanent teeth have emerged – usually by age 10-14 – using brackets, wires and bands which gradually move teeth into position over a 12- to 30-month timeframe, depending on each child’s individual requirements.

Children may wear metal, ceramic or transparent aligners as part of a correction strategy; their choice will depend on factors like complexity of correction required and ability to maintain oral hygiene.

Parents play an invaluable role here by supporting their kids to adhere to regular dental care routines and avoid sticky/hard foods as well as wearing any prescribed appliances such as rubber bands or retainers.

Final Thoughts

Your child’s development entails many stages and steps, from infant teething through adulthood. Along the way there will be dental milestones like braces being applied after baby teeth have come in; from infancy through to teenage hood. Early visits to dentist, regular exams and timely assessments by an orthodontist all contribute towards having healthy smiles with confidence and pride in each stage of growth. Knowing how braces for kids works makes all the difference when getting them.