Straighter Teeth for Adults and Children

How children, teens and adults in Birmingham can benefit from modern orthodontics.

As a nation with a reputation for having somewhat crooked teeth, it is probably little surprise that many patients from the Sutton Coldfield and Birmingham areas are starting to take advantage of the latest orthodontic procedures to correct this problem.

Whilst teenagers are probably the largest group to have braces to straighten their teeth, this does not mean that both older and younger patients cannot benefit too. In fact, many refer to the new generation of orthodontics as ‘adult orthodontics’.

Fast acting

One of the many benefits of some modern orthodontic systems is that they are designed to be faster acting than traditional ones. Some, such as Six Month Smiles are designed to be very fast acting indeed. This is achieved by focusing solely on the visible front teeth.

Some types of orthodontics, such as Invisalign, use an entirely different method altogether, i.e. clear aligner “trays”, whilst others, such as Damon braces are closer to traditional methods but use more discreet wiring and brackets to make them less obvious to wear.

Children

Whilst the use of  modern braces for teenagers and adults is reasonably well known; fewer people are aware that braces can be used on younger children to correct or  pre-empt problems later on.

At Arthur House Dental Care, we are able to offer interceptive orthodontics which are designed to be used on children, especially those diagnosed with orthodontic problems between the ages of 7 and 9.

Because children’s faces tend to grow slower than their teeth, overcrowding is often a problem and may well lead to crooked and uneven teeth. When left for too long, it may be necessary to extract some teeth prior to correcting any positional issues.

By using interceptive orthodontics, the bone volume is increased and the jaws aligned correctly. This allows the teeth to come through evenly without the need for extractions.

Other factors, such as thumb sucking, are common and unique to younger children. Performing this habit over a long period of time is also likely to lead to the teeth being pushed forward and interceptive orthodontics may be used to correct this once the sucking has stopped.

Healthier teeth

Whether orthodontics are used on children, teenagers or adults though, having straighter teeth is also likely to lead to healthier teeth. Straight teeth are easier to clean and especially so when  flossing. With uneven or crooked teeth, it can be very difficult to get between the teeth with dental floss and this may lead to decay or gum disease.

If you have any concerns about your own teeth, or your children’s, please call Arthur House Dental Care on 0121 323 4492 and ask about our range of fast acting dental braces.