Braces Basics: Beautifying Smiles Doesn’t Have to Break the Bank

As your children grow, you closely watch every physical development they go through, making sure that nothing out of the ordinary happens and that they are growing up strong and healthy.

Our pediatric dentists at Little Heroes know that you want the best for your children as they fight against those Sugarbugs and other dental problems.

Finding out one of your kids needs braces can come with a lot of questions. Fortunately, our amazing Little Heroes team has all the answers you need about this important phase in your lives.

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What Leads to the Need for Braces?

Braces are a corrective measure for a number of different problems. When any of these difficulties arise, find comfort in knowing Little Heroes has a solution for you:

• Crooked teeth
• Overlapping teeth
• Overcrowded teeth
• Malocclusion – This is a big word for a condition that many people are already familiar with. Malocclusion refers to a difference in size of the top and bottom jaws. A larger upper jaw is called an overbite and a larger lower jaw is called an underbite.

There are a lot of things that can cause these problems for your kids. From thumb sucking to pacifier use for too long, accidents to losing baby teeth too soon, there are a number of potential reasons your child may need braces.

Sometimes these issues are passed down genetically, so if you or a relative has had braces, there is a possibility your child might need them as well.

Spotting the Problem and The First Orthodontist Visit

For most families, it is usually your child’s dentist that will be the first one to notice that there is something out of the ordinary that requires a visit to the orthodontist.

If your dentist doesn’t notice anything, that does not mean that an appointment with the orthodontist should be put off. An early visit can still help catch problems quicker.

Most orthodontists will recommend a visit as soon as permanent teeth begin to come in, which is usually when they are about seven.

Permanent teeth coming in? Time to pay #LittleHeroes #orthodontic #dentists a visit. Click To Tweet

At their first orthodontic visit, your child will get a full exam of their teeth, mouth, and jaw. They may also have their bite tested and be asked questions about any troubles they have chewing.

The orthodontist will also likely take x-rays to check the positioning of their teeth. They may also make a mold of your child’s teeth to help them further examine alignment and decide if treatment is necessary.

Braces: Types and Care

If it turns out your child needs braces, there are different options available to them.
Braces, and any additional devices, all aim to move teeth into a straighter alignment by applying pressure on the teeth over time. For the majority of cases, the best option will be the traditional metal kind.

The metal brackets are attached to the teeth with wires and rubber bands to connect them. By tightening the wire slowly over time, the teeth begin to line up correctly.

While metal braces are the norm, your child can also opt for clear or ceramic ones. These options are less noticeable than the traditional metal ones.

On average, braces will need to be worn for about two years with visits every couple of weeks for check-ups and adjustment to the wires. Those years will force your kid to be extra mindful of keeping their teeth clean since food can easily get stuck in the brackets and wires.

Brushing after every meal and flossing every day with regular cleanings and checks for cavities will still be important.

Candy, gum, and snacks like popcorn, can damage braces and should be avoided. Drinks with high amounts of sugar, like sodas and certain juices, should be avoided as well.

If a wire or bracket is loose or scratching at your child’s mouth, you can bring them in right away to any of our Little Heroes dental offices all throughout South Texas, so our orthodontists can have a look.

#DentalWax is a great option for those wires poking into your children’s gums #Tips4Braces Click To Tweet

Cutting Costs

A great smile can go a long way towards helping our children develop confidence in themselves and the way they look.

While we try not to put a price tag on our children’s health, braces can be an expensive undertaking.

The long process can cost thousands of dollars and your personal health insurance might not be enough to cover it all.

There are options available that can help however such as:

• State insurance programs: Programs like Medicaid can help pick up the slack and cover the gaps in your own insurance. If the state of your child’s teeth severely limits certain functions like speaking and eating, the likelihood of receiving help goes way up. It is not the easiest process and there will be a lot of paperwork but the help you could get will be worth the effort.
• Smiles Change Lives: This program is available in all 50 states and is aimed at helping young people from the ages of 10 to 18. There are certain conditions including income limitations as well as where your family lives and the size of your household. Your child’s teeth must be taken care of as well. If accepted, the cost of braces would only be about $600.

Little Heroes wants your child to smile bright and have confidence in showing off their pearly whites.

Little Heroes is here to make the whole process simpler and address any lingering questions or doubts you and your child may have about braces.

Contact us today at any of our locations in Laredo, Mission, San Juan – and now – Pharr and Edinburg.

Make us a part of giving your child the smile they deserve.