Orthodontics for children in Ondarreta
Children's orthodontics or interceptive or functional orthodontics is generally performed during mixed dentition, that is, when there are temporary teeth - baby - and permanent teeth at the same time in the mouth, from the age of 6, and this is when the jaws are still growing. As recommended by the Spanish Society of Orthodontics, it is at this age when the first visit to the orthodontist is recommended.
What are the objectives of orthodontics in children:
– Guide the growth of the jaws correctly.
– Create and/or maintain space for permanent teeth that are pending to erupt.
– Reeducate or control bad habits or functions such as atypical or infantile swallowing.
– Reduce the time and difficulty of fixed orthodontic treatment during adolescence or adulthood and avoid possible orthognathic surgeries in the future.
Types of children's orthodontic appliances and dentofacial orthopedics
In general, children's orthodontic or orthopedic appliances usually have an appearance that suggests discomfort and pain, but contrary to their appearance, they are comfortable appliances for the patient. And thanks to the great adaptive capacity of children, they do not pose any problem for them.
– Removable devices: They are removable devices, which are generally used as space maintainers and to guide and enhance the growth of the jaws. The most common are expansion plates.
– Fixed devices: They are devices that are securely attached to the teeth and are used to help the growth of the jaw bones. The most common is the palatal breaker.
– Braces in children: Placing braces as a child, and therefore during the period of mixed dentition (a time in which the baby teeth have not finished exfoliating and the permanent teeth begin to erupt), is not very common and is only done exceptionally on some teeth. above to quickly solve specific and very specific dental problems.
– Extraoral appliances: They are external appliances (they go outside the mouth), which are anchored to the teeth or other fixed intraoral appliances. The most common are the face mask or TEX (extra oral traction). Its effect is usually orthopedic, and the objective is to guide the growth of the jaws and avoid the need for orthognathic surgery in the future to solve a skeletal problem. They are generally worn while at home during the day and while sleeping at night.
Advantages of Children's Orthodontics
The main advantage of children's orthodontics and dentofacial orthopedics is the early treatment of malocclusion. This allows you to avoid complex orthodontic treatments in adolescence or adulthood and also avoid the need for orthognathic surgery, a major surgical procedure.
During the period of mixed dentition, usually between 6 and 12 years of age, the jaw bones are still growing and forming. This means that they have the capacity to remodel, being able to guide the current unfavorable growth towards a more beneficial, harmonious and stable situation that will allow future corrective orthodontic treatments to be shorter and simpler.
During treatment for any type of orthodontics it is even more important than usual to maintain excellent oral hygiene. Poor hygiene in our little ones can cause inflammation of their gums, causing discomfort and sometimes the appearance of white spots on their enamel or large cavities.
In the case of removable appliances (removable), collaboration on the part of the patient during the hours of use is essential to achieve the expected results. With the motivation of our little ones, customizing their devices and a little help from their parents, the treatment will be a piece of cake.
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