FIND OUT EVERYTHING  ABOUT DENTAL APPLIANCES BEFORE TAKING A DECISION REGARDING YOUR CHILD’S TREATMENT

Looking good and being accepted by the ones around has become a lifestyle to young people. A beautiful and healthy smile always catches the eye and helps teenagers integrate in a group and be accepted. It can also influence his personal and academic success.

Finding out that your child needs a dental appliance might be overwhelming. Lots of questions could come to mind: why does he/she need a dental appliance? What happens if he/she doesn’t wear one? Will he/she accept to wear a dental appliance? How long will the treatment take? How much will it cost?

First of all, don’t wait until your child is old enough to wear a fixed appliance. The American Association of Orthodontists recommends that all children should have an orthodontic consultation by the age of 7.

WHY IS THE ORTHODONTIC CONSULTATION IMPORTANT?

Parents are not able to notice certain dental issues and it is better if these are timely detected. An orthodontic treatment might not be necessary in this exact moment, but after a consultation the family can find out if an appliance will be needed later and they will have enough time to plan their budget.

WHAT IS THE APPROPRIATE AGE FOR A DENTAL APPLIANCE?

Most orthodontic problems (crowded teeth, supernumerary teeth, not aligned teeth, malocclusion) can be treated much easier at an early age. The best result is obtained if treatment starts at age 7-12, when the jawbone is growing and the permanent teeth erupt.

BESIDES MAKING TEETH LOOK NICE, ARE DENTAL APPLIANCES REALLY NECESSARY?

Even if some patients decide to wear a dental appliance just to improve their dental esthetics, the functional improvement is much more important. Aligned teeth are much easier to clean, do not create retentive spaces for plaque to accumulate and act. The risk of decay emergence and gingival affections is reduced. Correcting the bite improves structural problems and reduces pain during chewing.

HOW CAN I CONVINCE MY CHILD TO WEAR AN APPLIANCE?

You could remind him/her that he/she will have to wear the appliance for just a period of time, while the result will last for the whole life.

WHAT ARE THE TREATMENT OPTIONS?

Depending on the dento-maxillary anomalies that have to be corrected, there is a variety of treatment solutions available. Dental appliances can be mobile, functional or fixed. The most frequently used one are the ones with brackets.

HOW IS A FIXED APPLIANCE INSTALLED?

Installing a fixed appliance takes about an hour. The orthodontist will start with a thorough cleaning of the teeth. Then a special adhesive will be applied and the brackets will be bonded. Finally, the brackets will be interconnected with springs and banded with special elastics. Depending on the patient’s preferences, these elastics can be colored.

HOW MUCH DOES TREATMENT WITH DENTAL APPLIANCE COST?

Prices start at 1650 RON and vary depending on the type of dental appliance. We offer our patients financial solutions to facilitate the access to treatments with orthodontic appliances.

WHY IS THE REGULAR CHECK-UP NECESSARY?

During regular check-ups the dentist examines the progress of treatment and the obtained results, replaces worn elastics for each bracket and adjusts the springs to allow teeth to move into the correct position. A regular check-up is planned every 4-6 weeks and takes about 20 minutes.

Not coming to the regular check-up will reduce the success rate of treatment, will slow down its progress and will prolong the period for wearing the appliance.

It is also very important for the patient to have a professional cleaning session every 4 months.

HOW LONG DOES THE CHILD NEED TO WEAR THE APPLIANCE?

The average period of treatment with orthodontic appliance is 18-24 months, depending on how complex the case is (some cases need interdisciplinary intermediary phases), on how cooperative the patient is and on how he shows up for regular check-ups.

IS THE TREATMENT OVER AFTER THE APPLIANCE IS REMOVED?

After the orthodontist removes the dental appliance, the contention phase begins (maintaining of the obtained results). Most patients need a contention or retainer which they will have to wear for a few more months or in some cases, a few more years.