Braces for children
Why should your child have their misaligned teeth corrected?
Misaligned teeth don’t just have aesthetic effects; if left untreated, they can disrupt the child’s further development. The effects of misaligned teeth are many and varied, ranging from an increased risk of injury during sport and play to lasting, painful jaw problems and chronic inflammation in the mouth. So orthodontic treatment not only ensures optimal dental health, it can also go on to correct speech disorders, relax the jaw joint and neck muscles and help prevent any abnormal development of the spine.
From what age should tooth development be checked?
“Ideally, come and see us as early as possible,” says Dr. Maija Eltz, who specialises exclusively in treating misaligned teeth and jaws, inviting you to a free initial consultation. “A thorough look is usually all an orthodontist needs to determine whether braces are necessary at all, or will be in future. If treatment isn’t needed straight away, a further check-up a year later is recommended. So a visit is worthwhile in any case.”
How does the treatment work?
The treatment itself is carried out according to the child’s age. For children with primary and early mixed dentition, i.e. aged approx. six to eight, what is known as phase 1 treatment applies. In this phase, we intervene in the child’s development in order to improve it. Once the child has all their permanent teeth at around age 12, phase 2 begins, in which fine adjustments, corrections and rotations of small misalignments are carried out for the most perfect end result possible. Phase 2 treatment is carried out with fixed braces or with clear Invisalign® aligners.