Aligners & Treatment Options
FAQ: What kinds of treatments are available?
For children, straightening smiles or correcting misaligned teeth can require a specialized approach. Orthodontics can correct crooked teeth or bad bites (known as malocclusions), and there are a variety of treatments available to improve your child’s smile. These incredible treatments can effectively support the healthy structural development of teeth throughout childhood and adolescence.
01. Expander
For children whose permanent teeth have not all come in, an expander is a tool to encourage correct growth and expansion of the upper dental arch. An expander can help support the correct spacing of permanent teeth and minimize the need for orthodontics later on.
02. Braces
Braces are a very common form of orthodontics. Made of stainless steel, plastic, or a combination of materials, braces are more comfortable and inconspicuous than ever. Sometimes, clear plastic “trays” can be used instead of braces to straighten teeth. Involving children in their care in fun ways like letting them choose the color of the elastics on their braces can help to inspire enthusiasm for caring for their teeth. Although lightweight wires and flexible materials help to lessen discomfort from braces, soreness may still occur, especially after adjustments or tightening. This pain is typically minimal, however, and usually treatable with over-the-counter NSAIDS like ibuprofen.
03. Retainer
Once braces are removed, teeth are commonly held in place for a period of time with a retainer. As children’s teeth can still move easily, a retainer prevents the teeth from sliding back to their original positions after the removal of braces. Accompanying braces, other orthodontic tools like nighttime headgears or rubber bands may also help effectively straighten teeth and improve malocclusions.
04. Aligners
Aligners are an alternative to your traditional bracket braces, it’s an more aesthetic option. The benefit to clear aligners is that it easier to maintain, easier to brush your teeth and looks more aesthetically pleasing. Aligners can take as much time as traditional braces so it doesn’t cost any more time to patients, and typically need fewer dental appointments throughout treatment.
Patient and parent education forms:
- Information sheet: Separators
- Information sheet: Rapid Palatal Expanders (RPE)
Orthodontics can help improve alignment and straighten teeth for children of many ages, from the very young to those in adolescence. While there are many types of orthodontic treatments available, all of them function essentially by placing pressure on teeth and jaws to encourage proper alignment.
A variety of orthodontic "appliances" are available today, thanks to ongoing research in the field of orthodontics. Options include traditional metal braces, tooth-colored braces, braces that go behind the teeth, clear aligners, and other devices. Check with your orthodontist about your child’s needs and what they feel is the best way to achieve your child’s desired results.
Modern orthodontic appliances are comfortable and efficient - offering stable, long-lasting results. While the appliances and some of the methods used in orthodontic treatment have come a long way since orthodontics became dentistry's first specialty in 1900, what endures is your orthodontists' desire to help you/your child achieve the healthiest bite possible and a beautiful smile to share with the world.
All treatments do require some special home care instructions and your pediatric dentist and/or their staff will review these with you in full detail. In all cases, dental hygiene is critical, so brushing twice each day and flossing daily can help not only keep teeth clean and protected, but can also ensure the cleanliness of any orthodontic devices in the mouth. Food can easily become caught or stuck in the wires of braces, for example, which requires a more thorough brushing and flossing routine. Rinsing with water or a dentist-recommended mouthwash can also help to loosen debris and keep braces clean.