At what age can a child get braces?

The bracket system is a non-removable structure used in orthodontic practice to correct the patient’s bite. Special non-removable plates are attached to the outer or inner surface of the teeth throughout the entire dentition. Each bracket has a groove in which the orthodontic arch is attached. The use of braces is often necessary for the normal functioning of the human maxillofacial apparatus. The main indication for the installation of this design is an incorrect bite, as well as a single incorrect location or absence of one or more teeth.

Attention! The use of orthodontic plates allows not only to correct the bite, but also to prevent the development of other pathologies: gastrointestinal diseases, destruction of the jaw joints, damage to the tissues of the tongue and cheeks, etc.

Until what age can you get braces?

Why do you need to get braces?

Uneven teeth complicate the processes of communication and socialization, as they look unsightly. They form many complexes. Bite defects and uneven dentition cause poor dental health (caries, periodontitis, wedge-shaped defects), problems with the gastrointestinal tract due to disruption of the process of chewing food. Bite pathology is associated with the appearance of health problems that have nothing to do with the digestive process.

It can be:

pathology of the temporomandibular joint;
the appearance of severe headaches;
diseases of the ENT organs;
poor posture.

Deformation of the facial skeleton and respiratory diseases are detected.

What is malocclusion and why does it occur?

A person has two jaws - upper and lower. The closure of the teeth of the two jaws is called a bite. If this closure is even, the bite is considered correct; if the teeth of one row, when closing, overlap the teeth of the second row, they speak of an incorrect bite. Orthodontists treat such dental disorders. Malocclusion often develops in childhood and can be due to various reasons.

Difficult pregnancy and childbirth.

One of the common causes is birth trauma, which results in pathologies of the neurological system and musculoskeletal system. These disorders lead to improper development of the jaws.

Mistakes when breastfeeding.

In a baby, the upper jaw is larger than the lower jaw. When a baby nurses, the jaw muscles naturally tighten and alignment occurs. If the baby is not breastfed or eats incorrectly, the formation of a correct bite may be disrupted.

Poor posture, problems with the musculoskeletal system.

If a child often slouches, not only the spine is deformed, but also the position of the jaw.

Lack of teeth.

If for some reason a tooth falls out or is removed ahead of schedule, other teeth tend to take up the vacant space, the habit of gnawing hard objects appears, and the tone of the masticatory muscles is impaired.

Also, the cause of malocclusion may be a short frenulum of the tongue, a lack of vitamins and minerals in the diet. The bite is formed incorrectly in those children who often suffer from acute respiratory viral infections and in whom normal nasal breathing is disrupted. They are forced to keep their mouth slightly open, which leads to abnormal bite development.

What types of structures are there?

There are different types of bracket systems according to their design features and method of attachment to surfaces.

Systems come in the following types:

Vestibular – orthodontic structures attached to the front surface of the teeth. This is a more affordable option in terms of cost.
Lingual – systems for correcting malocclusions that are glued to the inner surface of the tooth.

Orthodontic structures are made from various materials. For these products the following are used: metal with shape memory, plastics, ceramics, artificial sapphires, gold. Based on design features, they are divided into: self-regulating systems and ligature ones.

Problems with teeth and gums are a feature of adult orthodontic patients

Is it possible to put braces on crowns and filled teeth? This question is extremely relevant for adults who have decided to undergo orthodontic treatment, because the condition of their teeth, and sometimes gums, very often leaves much to be desired. The process is often complicated by the presence of a large number of fillings placed long ago, pulpless teeth covered with crowns, and sometimes problems with periodontium. Therefore, a patient who comes for an appointment at the orthodontic center for the first time is prescribed a thorough diagnosis, and based on its results, a consultation with specialized specialists: a therapist, a periodontist, a surgeon.

Ultimately, only the doctor decides whether to put braces on fillings. It all depends on the condition of the tooth enamel, the quality and service life of the filling. If necessary, the tooth is resealed to prevent the “historic” dental cement from cracking or splitting.
The problem with crowns is also solved individually. Teeth covered with them can only be moved if their roots are not damaged. If the crown is part of a bridge, the bridge will have to be sawed to release it, or it will have to be removed and a temporary plastic prosthesis made for the patient. Since the surface of the crowns is smoother than tooth enamel, it is best for the patient to install metal braces in installments, which have a more reliable fixation.

Mechanism of action

Correction by this method is based on the ability of teeth to shift under mechanical influence from the outside. They are fixed in the jaw in a movable manner. Systems allow units to be corrected to be offset. This happens by pulling them out of the alveolar process, or vice versa, by deep immersion into the socket. It allows you to rotate them around their axis or tilt them in the required direction. With prolonged exposure, the bone of the alveolar process is resorbed, freeing up space for displacement. On the opposite side, where the dental ligament is stretched, bone tissue grows and the tooth is fixed in the required position.

Moving to another city is another difficulty in orthodontic treatment for adults

In the photo before and after braces, even a non-specialist can clearly see how the position of the teeth and the nature of the bite improve during the process of orthodontic treatment. But, unfortunately, the result of the correction sometimes leaves much to be desired, and this is not always due to the lack of qualifications of the dentist. In the case of older patients, problems often arise due to their frivolous attitude towards the extremely complex process of teeth straightening.

If the situation is such that a person moves to another city for family or work reasons, therapy is usually interrupted for an indefinite period, so the achieved result is quickly lost and the teeth move in different directions.

What is the installation

Installing braces is a difficult and lengthy process. A thorough examination is carried out before it.

The installation includes the following stages:

The oral cavity is thoroughly prepared (treatment of all inflammatory processes in the oral cavity, carious teeth, professional cleaning);
taking impressions of the jaws, making all the necessary calculations;
manufacturing, individual adjustment of the system to the jaw, teeth;
installation of an orthodontic system;
patient adaptation to braces.

On average, any malocclusion pathology can be resolved with fixed orthodontic structures in up to two years.

Rules of care

The design features of braces systems increase the likelihood of developing inflammatory and carious processes in the oral cavity, so you need to take special care of your teeth during the treatment period.

Be sure to follow the following recommendations:

brush your teeth after every main meal;
in the morning and evening you need to use special (V-shaped, mono-beam) toothbrushes and brushes;
use an irrigator and rinse aids.

Parental supervision, especially in the case of younger children, increases the effectiveness of care.

It is also necessary to monitor the child’s diet: you should not eat solid foods (nuts, crackers, seeds), or sticky foods. It is not recommended to drink drinks with food colorings, and you should avoid sports that pose a risk of injury.

You need to brush your teeth with braces not only with a regular brush, but also with a special brush.

Indications

When it is possible to put braces on a child, how can parents understand that he needs to correct the pathology of occlusion. Incorrect development of teeth and jaws becomes noticeable even in primary occlusion.

Signs to suspect that correction may be required:

one or both parents have malocclusions;
long-term disruption of nasal breathing;
there are habits that can deform the dentition (finger sucking, foreign objects, prolonged pacifier sucking);
visible dentition disorders;
disproportionate development of the jaws;
the child has diabetes and diseases of the nervous system.

In these cases, parents should take the student to an orthodontist for an examination. This is necessary to resolve questions about the advisability of correcting dental anomalies, installing braces for their children, and determining at what age it is best to start treatment.

Contraindications for occlusion adjustment in adults

Unfortunately, not all patients who need to correct jaw anomalies can have braces. There are absolute and temporary contraindications.

Absolute:

installed implants;
lack of teeth;
endocrine diseases;
mental illness;
pathology of bone tissue;
oncology;
blood diseases.

Temporary:

acute infections;
presence of dental diseases;
enamel damage;
poor hygiene (stones, plaque);
bruxism;
pregnancy.

At what age is it established

There are different opinions among orthodontists about the age at which children can wear braces. Some believe that they can be installed from the age of seven. You just need to use special systems. Others believe that it is advisable to install them only in adolescence (over twelve years).

Before installation before adolescence, the following must be considered:

It is advisable to install correction systems only after the eruption of the second molars, since there is a risk of teeth erupting in the wrong place;
Mandatory examinations must be carried out to exclude severe defects in the development of the jaws, imbalances in the development of the facial skeleton and muscles;
the length of the teeth must be sufficient to install locking fasteners;
the enamel layer must be well developed, capable of withstanding the fastening of the system;
It is necessary to find out how the load on the teeth occurs so that it does not become excessive when installing the system.

In a child of primary school age, structures are installed only according to strict indications. When delay leads to the development of defects that cannot be corrected if the structures are installed later. His general physical condition must be taken into account. Until the age of twelve, it is better to correct the bite using removable plates.

How long should children wear braces and how to remove them?

On average, children and teenagers wear braces for six months or a year, in difficult cases – up to 2-3 years. The duration of correction depends on a combination of several factors:

the complexity of the deformation of the dentition - the higher it is, the more time it will take;
type of installed system - vestibular ones correct the bite faster than lingual ones;
responsibility of the patient and his parents - it is necessary to strictly follow the instructions of the orthodontist and not miss visits to the clinic.

Orthodontic structures are removed by a doctor in less than an hour. First, the locks are removed (in 10 minutes from one jaw), then the tooth enamel is cleaned of glue, polished, and treated with a remineralizing agent for 15-30 minutes. Additional time is taken by the installation of retainers - retaining structures necessary to prevent teeth from diverging. Fixed retainers can be replaced with hard aligners that are worn at night. You need to use prophylactic agents from several months to a year.

What problems may arise

Children are not able to maintain oral hygiene to the required extent. They do not take care of them, the structures may not last long, they break and the locks come unglued.

Maximum age limit

The formed bone tissue of an adult is difficult to mechanically influence, so the corrective process takes longer than in children. Often you even have to remove one element to make room for the rest to move.

No doctor will tell you the exact age after which braces cannot be installed. The possibility of correcting pathologies using brace systems is determined individually depending on the following factors: