Introduction

Hey Porter Ranch families and Googlers, are you looking for an answer to the question, ‘Do I need braces?’ This is an important question, so let’s discuss and clear up some of the uncertainties about it.

What are they?

Braces are commonly used to straighten teeth that aren’t in alignment. If you or your child need braces, the process can be expensive, time-consuming, and inconvenient. But corrective dental braces do have a high rate of success, and they leave you with oral health benefits that go beyond a perfect smile.

Who Needs Braces?

Braces are most often prescribed during childhood or early adolescence. Adults are also getting them more frequently. In fact, 20 percent of people with braces today are adults. If you believe you or a family member could benefit from it, it’s better to know sooner rather than later.

Signs You Need Braces

The signs that an adult needs braces can vary according to age and overall dental health. Symptoms that can indicate you need it include:

• Teeth that are visibly crooked or crowded
• Difficulty flossing between and brushing around crooked teeth
• Frequently biting your tongue or cutting your tongue on your teeth
• Teeth that don’t close over each other properly when your mouth is at rest
• Difficulty pronouncing certain sounds due to your tongue’s position under your teeth
• Jaws that click or make noises when you chew or first wake up
• Stress or fatigue on your jawline after chewing food

Signs a Child Needs Braces

If your child needs them, it can be a little more difficult to tell. If a child has baby teeth that are crooked or crowded, it can be a sign that they will need them in the future. Other signs include:

• Breathing through the mouth
• Jaws that click or make other sounds
• Being prone to biting the tongue, roof of the mouth, or inside of the cheek accidentally
• Thumb-sucking or using a pacifier past the age of 2
• Early or late loss of baby teeth
• Teeth that don’t come together even when the mouth is shut completely
• Teeth that are crooked or crowded

Seeking Medical Help

The American Academy of Orthodontics recommends that all children have an appointment with an orthodontist no later than age 7. Early treatment can improve outcomes. The best age for getting them varies from person to person, but most treatments begin between the ages of 9 and 14. However, you’re never too old for them. Whenever you’re ready to pursue treatment for crowded or crooked teeth, you can schedule an appointment. No referral is needed.

Alternative Treatments

Metal and ceramic braces, as well as invisible are the most common types of teeth straightening treatments. The only real alternative to orthodontic braces is teeth straightening surgery. This surgery can be a minor procedure to change the way your teeth are aligned or a more serious process where your jaw is surgically realigned.

Summary

Crooked and crowded teeth are the traditional telltale sign that you or your child might need braces. But having crooked teeth or an overbite isn’t the only sign. It’s also a myth that you need to wait until all of a child’s adult teeth come in to determine if they need them. There is a difference in wanting braces for cosmetic reasons and needing them for continued oral health. Speak to a dentist about the possibility of needing braces if you have any of the symptoms listed above.