Children can need braces for any number of reasons including crooked, overlapping, or overcrowded teeth, or if they have a ‘bad bite’. This is when there’s a difference in the sizes of the top and bottom jaws. When the upper jaw is bigger than the lower jaw, it’s called an overbite. When the lower jaw is bigger, it’s called an underbite.
Often, your dentist at One Smile Oral Care in West Malling will be the first to notice problems with your child’s teeth during their regular check-up and will then recommend that you see our specialist who will correct jaw and teeth alignment problems. They will decide whether your child does indeed need braces in West Malling and which devices would be best.
Starting dental check-ups from an early age doesn’t mean a child will get braces right away. It just means our specialists will be able to find problems and decide the best time to start treatments.
Types of braces
Braces in West Malling correct alignment problems by putting steady pressure on the teeth, which will slowly move them into straighter and healthier positions.
Most children just need braces with brackets, wires and rubber bands. The brackets attach to the teeth and are connected by a wire and rubber bands. The wire is tightened over time to line the teeth up correctly. We offer rubber bands in different colors to make the process more enjoyable for our younger patients.
Once the braces are fitted, your child will need to visit One Smile Oral Care every few weeks for monitoring and adjustments.
How long will they have to wear braces for?
How long your child will need to wear their braces in West Malling will depend on the severity of the problems we are trying to correct but the average time is around 2 years. After that, your child may need to wear a specially molded retainer consisting of a hard piece of plastic with metal wires or a thin piece of plastic shaped like a mouth guard. The retainers we provide at One Smile Oral Care will ensure their teeth won’t wander back to their original crooked positions.