Braces For Kids: Everything You Need to Know

Malocclusion is one of the most common oral health problems in childhood.

Braces are the most common fixed orthodontic method for treating dental problems. Basically, it is a support that adheres to the teeth and is interconnected by a system of wires or arches that join the different pieces. Its objective? Put enough pressure on the teeth to correct their position in the long term.

Braces are the most common treatment in cases of infantile malocclusion, which is nothing more than the incorrect alignment of the teeth due to a problem with the bone growth of the maxilla or mandible and / or the position of the teeth. The objective of using brackets is to correct the skeletal alteration and / or the position of the teeth with respect to the bone to improve dental aesthetics and facilitate proper chewing.

Usually the brackets are recommended to correct the overcrowding of teeth, but is also a useful resource to treat excessively spaced teeth, the problems of open or overbite and rotating teeth. They are also an excellent treatment to correct tooth protrusion, a condition in which the teeth are too far forward and protrude.

Metallic or conventional brackets

It is the oldest and cheapest version of braces. Basically, they work by means of rubber bands that are fixed to the arch that lines the teeth. One of their greatest advantages is that they can be personalized with a multitude of designs and colors, which makes them an especially attractive option for the little ones at home. Its use is very effective but slow.

Transparent or aesthetic braces

Cosmetic braces have gained a lot of ground in recent years thanks to the fact that they are practically imperceptible. Its system is very similar to that of metal braces, but they are made with light-colored materials that can even mimic the color of teeth buy twitch followers. Whether they are made of ceramic, sapphire or polycarbonate, they are very effective in solving bite problems and tooth alignment. In addition, as they are made with biocompatible materials, they are safe for children with metal allergies.

Self-ligating braces

Unlike conventional brackets, these do not require ligatures to attach to the arch of the dental appliance as they do so through a gate mechanism or integrated tabs. This makes them less visible, while making brushing easier and preventing the accumulation of food debris. By having a self-adjusting mechanism, it is not necessary to go to the dentist every so often to adjust the braces. In addition, they are much more precise when correcting the position of the teeth, while shortening the treatment time thanks to optimizing the use of forces.

Lingual braces

It is a system of metal braces that works basically the same as conventional braces, but instead of adhering to the visible face of the teeth, they are placed on the inside. In this way, they are completely invisible from the outside, making them much more aesthetic. As in the case of self-ligating, they do not need rubbers to attach the mechanism, but instead are more uncomfortable, more difficult to clean and often cause speech problems.