When Can Your Child Get South Houston Braces?

Your child’s smile has always brought you joy, so you’ve likely done all you can to protect it and keep it healthy. Sometimes, however, regular checkups with our South Houston dentist may not be enough to ensure your child's smile continues to shine. This is especially true in cases of malocclusion, which refers to a bad bite. If you’ve noticed your child’s teeth look crowded or crooked, you might be wondering if it’s time to get South Houston braces treatment. Keep reading to understand when our South Houston family dentist typically recommends beginning braces treatment and what to expect from the process.

Understanding South Houston Braces

When our South Houston dentist recommends dental braces, it’s usually to address malocclusion. That means your child’s bite is not aligned properly, resulting in crooked, poorly-spaced, and/or crowded teeth. The best way to correct these issues is with South Houston braces, which can be composed of metal or ceramic.

South Houston Metal Braces

The most popular and affordable option, South Houston metal braces are what most people think about when they think about dental braces. They are composed of a thin metal wire threaded through metal brackets, which are affixed to the front of each tooth using a special glue. Our South Houston family dentist will adjust this wire’s tension over the course of treatment in order to properly shift your child’s teeth into the proper position. 

South Houston Ceramic Braces

South Houston ceramic braces are similar to South Houston metal braces in terms of form and function. The main difference between the two lies in the material used to make them. South Houston ceramic braces are, as the name implies, made of ceramic brackets that blend better with your child’s natural tooth color. They are as effective as South Houston metal braces, but are more expensive and slightly less durable. Ask our South Houston family dentist if your child is a good candidate for this option.

When Your Child Should Get South Houston Braces

Our South Houston dentist will typically wait until all your child’s baby teeth have fallen out and all adult teeth have erupted before beginning South Houston braces treatment, which is usually between the ages of 10 and 14. At this age, the newly-erupted adult teeth move easier than years later, when they have more firmly set in the jaw. On occasion, our South Houston family dentist will recommend two rounds of braces treatment, the first of which will make room in the jaw for adult teeth to erupt, the second to straighten those adult teeth once they’ve come in. This typically reduces the need for more invasive procedures later.

Centra Dental Is Your Choice for South Houston Braces

If you think it’s time for your child to get South Houston braces, call us today to schedule an appointment. We’re here to answer your questions and provide our best recommendations for you and your family’s dental care. We strive to make the dental experience as pleasant and stress-free as possible with a comfortable setting, surgically-clean air, and access to movies and wi-fi. Give us a chance to embrace your smile and ask us about our dental service specials.