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Orthodontic Braces, How Early Should a Child Be Treated?

How early should children get dental braces and orthodontic treatment?

A simple guideline to use is that children should be examined at the time their permanent teeth are beginning to come in. However, every child is different, and sometimes the best starting time for getting orthodontic braces and other dental appliances depends on the type of problem and how severe it is. So the answer really is: "It depends…"

If your child has crooked teeth and requires dental braces, early intervention can make a real difference. That is when the best results with orthodontic braces are seen; ones that might be impossible once your child's face and jaw have completely developed. Also, when started early, completing the orthodontics is much easier.

During an initial examination, your dentist will evaluate your child's facial growth, spacing between teeth, crowding, and extra, missing or crooked teeth. They will also look for overbite and for habits like tongue-thrusting and thumb-sucking that may hinder normal growth and development. These problems can change tooth alignment as well as alter facial appearance.

If, after the initial exam, your child doesn't require orthodontic braces or retainers, most dentists will schedule periodic follow-up exams. This is to ensure that while the permanent teeth are coming in, and their face and jaws continue to grow, their needs don't change. If they do, the problem can be caught and fixed early.

Getting orthodontic braces and retainers can bring your child's teeth, lips and face into harmony. We all know that a pleasing appearance and beautiful smile give children, and adults, a big advantage in life.

+Jim Du Molin is a leading Internet search expert helping individuals and families connect with the right dentist in their area. Visit his author page.

Invisalign Braces Treatment, Find an Orthodontist or Orthodontic Dentist

Getting started couldn't be easier. In fact, your crooked teeth could be straighter teeth, and your smile, more beautiful, within weeks of receiving Invisalign invisible braces from your orthodontist.

Step 1: Visit Your Orthodontist

During this first step you will need to make an appointment with an Invisalign Certified Orthodontist. During the initial visit, your orthodontics professional will help you decide on your course of teeth straightening treatment. He will take bite impressions of your teeth and send them, along with a set of precise instructions, to Invisalign.

Step 2: Invisalign Makes Your Aligners

Invisalign uses advanced 3-D computer imaging technology to transform your bite impressions into a custom-made series of clear and removable invisible braces. There may be as many as 48 in the series or as few as 12, depending on your individual Invisalign clear braces treatment plan.

Step 3: You Receive Your Invisalign Aligners in a Few Weeks

During your next visit to your orthodontist, you will receive your first set of Invisalign aligners. Your orthodontist will most likely give you a few additional sets for you to wear before you return for your next visit.

Step 4: You Wear Your Invisalign Aligners

You'll wear each set of clear Invisalign braces day and night for about 2 weeks, removing them only to eat, drink, brush and floss. Total treatment time averages 9-15 months, but will vary from case to case. You'll visit your orthodontist only about every 6 weeks to ensure that your Invisalign treatment is progressing as planned.

Step 5: You've Finished The Invisalign Treatment

Congratulations! When you're finished wearing each aligner in the series, your Invisalign teeth straightening treatment will be complete and you will have the beautiful smile you've always wanted.

+Jim Du Molin is a leading Internet search expert helping individuals and families connect with the right dentist in their area. Visit his author page.