The Best Types of Braces for Kids

Getting the right kind of braces for kids is just as important and as necessary as getting the right kind of toothbrush or glasses for a kid. In this article, I have discussed the various types of braces for kids and pointed out the best ones for your kids.

Dental braces, as they are officially called, are devices used to align and straighten teeth and also improve dental health. Braces are installed on the teeth for many reasons and it has many other uses and advantages it provides. All in all, the device is designed to promote the dental health of an individual.

As a parent, guardian, or elder sibling you already know that most kids don’t care jack about their health. Well, it’s not like they don’t care they simply do not understand the principles of health.  Therefore, the huge responsibility of ensuring that a kid stays healthy lies on the shoulder of the closest adult.

Installing braces for your kid(s) is one of the ways to promote their health and dental health is a serious matter. Before taking your child to see an orthodontist for the installation of new braces, it is important to know that there are different types of braces for kids. You could start learning about braces for kids for the first time when you get to the clinic but having a basic knowledge of the subject matter is really going to be helpful.

Imagine digesting the content of this article before going in with your child to see an orthodontist, there would be this easy communication flow between you and the doctor. You can easily understand the terms used, know the pros and cons of the different braces for kids, and know the best braces for kids too as they are all discussed here.

Getting braces for kids reduces or even terminates certain dental and oral complications that your child might face later. Aside from being a significant dental health benefit, dental braces are an advent of teen years. If you’ve got your mind made up to get braces for your child, the next step would be to choose the appropriate kind.

What are the Different Types of Braces

Advancement in innovation and technology has made braces better than what they used to be a century ago. It is no longer a one-size-fits-all solution, today there are different types of braces for kids that parents or guardians can choose from.

The different types of braces have been listed and discussed below and whichever one you choose for your child will set them on the path of healthy teeth for a really long time.

• Traditional Braces
• Ceramic Braces
• Self-ligating Braces
• Invisalign
• Lingual Braces
• Mini Braces
• Partial Braces

Seven different types of braces for kids were listed above but the first five are the most common options, the last two were provided to widen your option.

Traditional Braces

Traditional braces are the most common type of braces and are very effective for kids as well as adults. Through a system of metal brackets, archwires, and elastic bands traditional braces align the teeth. With the aid of a unique dental adhesive, the brackets are attached to the teeth and the archwires create a system of pressure that allows the teeth to gently slide into the right position. Traditional braces require periodic checkups every 4-8 weeks for the orthodontist to readjust the wires.

The pros of traditional braces

1. Efficient and versatile.
2. It is the most affordable kind of braces.
3. They are extremely effective even in cases of severe misalignment and are the most effective in kids.
4. They are durable and your child can choose any fun color they want.
5. It won’t affect your child’s speech.

The cons of traditional braces are

1. It is very noticeable.
2. Difficulty in cleaning the teeth.
3. You will have to restrict your child to eating certain food such as hard, uncooked vegetables and may have to give up on their favorite foods.
4. They are hard to maintain.

Ceramic Braces

Ceramic braces are almost the same as traditional braces. The only difference is that in ceramic braces, clear or tooth-colored brackets are used which makes it less obvious that your child is wearing braces.

The pros of Ceramic braces

1. Ceramic braces are less painful.
2. Clear brackets are used which makes them discreet and hard to notice.
3. They are less expensive.
4. They are durable.

The cons of ceramic braces

1. Exposure to excess pressure for a long period of time can damage them.
2. The rubber bands used in connecting your teeth to the ceramic braces will discolor and stain your teeth if it stays on for too long.
3. The brackets are bigger.

Self-ligating Braces

The self-ligating braces work the same as traditional and ceramic braces, with the aid of brackets and an archwire, they align the teeth correctly. However, instead of making use of a rubber band to connect the brackets to the archwires, self-ligating braces clips are used to hold the wire in place.

This can be a good option for your child because you won’t be visiting the orthodontist regularly and the braces are less discomforting.

Invisalign

Unlike the typical wire and brackets braces you know of, Invisalign is an alternative that uses advanced technology to straighten the teeth. In Invisalign orthodontist treatment, clear, custom-made series of aligners with a high-tech scanner is installed in your child’s teeth. The scanner is designed to take a virtual impression of the teeth and every two weeks, the aligners are replaced with newer and straighter ones.

If you want to avoid metals and brackets in your kid’s mouth, then you may want to consider using Invisalign. They are subtle, barely noticeable, and provide long-lasting results.

The pros of Invisalign

1. Your child can easily remove it when they want to eat, drink, or clean their teeth.
2. It has a clear color which makes it nearly invisible.
3. Your child will find it more comfortable to wear.

The cons of Invisalign

1. It is not a preferred solution for complex dental issues.
2. Your child must have them on for 22 hours per day for it to take effect. If you think your kid will slip them on and off at will, then don’t get it.
3. If your child doesn’t take out the aligners when they want to eat or drink, bacteria will grow along their teeth or gumline leading to cavities.
4. They are expensive.
5. Your child can easily lose or break the aligners.

Lingual Braces

Lingual braces are like the typical braces using metals and brackets but instead of being fixed in front of the teeth like the usual ones, they are fixed to the back of your teeth. Due to their position, they are barely noticeable and also provide effective results. The downside to lingual braces is that your kid may experience slight changes in speech and tongue irritation too but they usually go away when they get accustomed to the braces.

Mini Braces

Mini braces are the common wires and brackets but they are smaller in size and make use of less metal therefore are less visible making less of an impact on your child’s appearance.

Partial Braces

Partial braces are traditional braces but fixed on one dental arch or on a few front teeth. They’re designed to align the specific teeth that need a solution.

The Benefits of Braces for Kids

Braces are designed to align the teeth but there are more benefits that come with getting braces for your kid(s), they are:

• Your child’s confidence and self-esteem will boost.
• Your kid’s speech will greatly improve.
• It prevents bone erosion, gum disease, and tooth decay.
• It avoids teeth chipping in your child.
• Promotes a child’s oral health.
• Getting braces for kids teaches them the importance of dental and oral hygiene which they will take seriously as they grow older.

Furthermore, getting braces for kids saves parents money in the long run.

How much are Braces for Kids?

Braces, no matter the type you want to go for, do not have fixed prices. The cost usually depends on various factors. The average cost of braces for kids ranges from $3,000 to $7,000.

FAQs on Braces for Kids

Conclusion

Getting braces for kids will help boost their confidence and self-esteem, they can smile wherever they are and forever be thankful to their parents/guardians for taking responsibility for their dental health. If you have decided to get braces for your kid(s) this article can help you decide the right one for your child and budget.  

Schedule an appointment today!