What You Need To Know About Teenage Orthodontic Care

Orthodontics is a type of dentistry that corrects defects in the jaw and teeth. It involves straightening and aligning the lips and teeth, correcting gaps between the teeth, as well as solving problems with biting. Teenagers are the most common candidates for orthodontic care because this time of life is the period when both the mouth and head are growing, allowing alignment and straightening of the teeth, jaws and lips.

In most cases, orthodontists use braces to correct these defects. Given that, parents are advised to discuss the reasons for having braces before they are applied to prepare their teen for the treatment procedure. Here is more information that you need to know.

How Do You Know That Your Child Needs To See an Orthodontist?

It is difficult to determine if your kid requires orthodontics without a diagnosis by a dentist. However, if your child experiences underbites, overbites, open bites, crossbites, has crowding and spacing of the teeth, or has a misplaced midline of the front teeth, it is time to visit orthodontic caregivers. They will perform both physical and clinical examination with help of diagnostic tools to ascertain if your child is a candidate.

Additional Benefits of Orthodontic Treatment

The process of orthodontic treatment will usually begin after most permanent teeth have developed. Braces are fixed in the teeth to achieve defect correction. Then, they are adjusted every month for 6 - 12 months to complete the treatment.

Besides the correction of defects in the teeth and jaws, teenagers improve their self-confidence and general health, inclining them in a better position to achieve their life goals and dreams.

What You Need To Do During the Treatment Period

To achieve the best results, both the patient and doctor have to take up their roles through working together. Therefore, as a parent, you need to help your child understand that orthodontic treatment takes time. What is more, your teenager must observe care and maintenance by flossing and brushing daily until the procedure is complete.

Orthodontic Treatment Cost and Insurance

The prices of braces vary so much depending on the caregivers and the type of braces. However, on average, regular braces will go for 3000 - 7000 AUD. Dental insurance plans can help you settle a percentage of the total treatment cost. However, there is a waiting period, which means that you cannot pay for an insurance policy and starting benefiting from it immediately.

You can always visit a dentist to get handy information about teenage orthodontic care.