When considering braces treatment for a child, parents will often have several everyday concerns that need to be addressed. Braces can be an essential remedial treatment for a child who has severe orthodontic issues and the timely address of this can be instrumental in making the correction as pain and hassle-free as possible. If however, you are thinking of braces for your child as more of an aesthetic treatment, you may have more doubts as to the necessity of getting braces fitted and weighing up the pros and cons can be complex.
Key considerations for a braces treatment
1. Cost and Insurance
- Braces Cost: Orthodontic treatment can be expensive. Understanding the total cost and what it includes (e.g., initial consultation, braces, adjustments, retainers) is crucial. In August 2024 Whites Dental, London, UK are running a Back to School Braces promotion which provides a significant saving on the consultation and braces treatments.
- Insurance: Check if dental insurance covers orthodontic treatment and what portion of the costs it will cover. Some plans might have limitations or require pre-approval.
2. Duration of Treatment
- Treatment Time: The duration of wearing braces can vary, typically ranging from 1 to 3 years. Understanding this timeframe helps in planning and setting expectations.
- Regular Appointments: Braces require regular adjustments, usually every 4-8 weeks. This means frequent visits to the orthodontist, which needs to be factored into the family’s schedule.
3. Comfort and Pain Management
- Discomfort: Braces can cause discomfort, especially after adjustments. Parents need to be prepared to manage their child’s pain with over-the-counter pain relief and soft foods.
- Oral Sores: Braces can cause sores inside the mouth. Orthodontic wax and topical treatments can help alleviate these issues.
4. Oral Hygiene
- Brushing and Flossing: Maintaining oral hygiene becomes more challenging with braces. Children need to learn proper techniques for brushing and flossing to prevent cavities and gum disease. And should be encouraged to brush their teeth after each meal.
- Special Tools: Investing in tools like interdental brushes, water flossers, and fluoride mouthwashes can help maintain good oral hygiene.
5. Dietary Restrictions
- Food Choices: Certain foods can damage braces or get stuck in them. Hard, sticky, and chewy foods should be avoided. Parents need to ensure their child adheres to these dietary restrictions.
- Nutritional Balance: Maintaining a balanced diet that avoids problematic foods while ensuring the child gets necessary nutrients is important.
6. Appearance and Self-Esteem
- Aesthetic Concerns: Some children may feel self-conscious about wearing braces. Options like ceramic braces or clear aligners can be considered to address these concerns.
- Peer Reactions: Helping the child handle potential teasing or comments from peers is important for their emotional well-being.
7. Activity Limitations
- Sports and Physical Activities: Children who play contact sports may need to wear a mouthguard to protect their braces and teeth. Discussing this with the orthodontist can help in selecting the right type.
- Musical Instruments: Playing wind instruments may be more challenging with braces. Practice and potential adjustments to technique may be necessary.
8. Compliance
- Following Instructions: Children must adhere to the orthodontist’s instructions regarding elastics, headgear, or retainers to ensure effective treatment.
- Parental Supervision: Parents need to supervise and encourage their child to follow these instructions diligently.
9. Potential Emergencies
- Broken Braces: Wires or brackets can sometimes break, requiring emergency visits to the orthodontist. Knowing how to handle these situations and having access to emergency care is essential.
10. Post-Treatment Care
- Retainers: After braces are removed, retainers are usually required to maintain the new tooth alignment. Ensuring the child wears the retainer as prescribed is crucial for long-term success.
- Continued Dental Care: Regular dental check-ups and cleanings should continue during and after orthodontic treatment.
Action Plan
By considering these everyday concerns, parents can better prepare for their child’s braces treatment and ensure a smoother, more successful orthodontic journey.
Initially, you may want to research into the expenses, there is some regional variation in cost throughout the UK, the Cost of Braces in London, is likely to be very different in more rural locations, and equally the travel the follow-up adjustments more disruptive.
Most of the other concerns, including whether or not the clinic accepts dental insurance or payment plans, or even, provides finance should be for discussion with your orthodontist and to attend a consultation is a wise move. This enables you to ask all the questions that are worrying you and additionally, get tailored information regarding the specific treatment required.
In regard to the appearance of braces, and the opportunity for teasing or bullying, it may also be wise to speak to your child and talk them through the best way to handle any such event, you may also hire a child psychologist and talk to the school if you have particular concerns.
Finally, spending some time looking into the best foods and dietary recommendations is also a good idea, if your child is quite dependent on high-sugar foods, it is also worthwhile speaking with your child about potential food swaps – attempting to enforce a complete ban on anything sweet is not likely to last very long, and worse could lead to more snacking, at school for example. Fruit-based desserts, custard and some ice-creams are likely to be a better alternative at meal time, and there are plenty of low-sugar, high protein and high fibre treats that may be a better option to sweets for example.
