An orthodontic plate is perhaps the only way to correct a malocclusion in children. And the sooner you deliver it, the sooner your child will have a beautiful and healthy smile.
Necessity
First of all, it is important for parents to understand that an orthodontic plate is not just a whim of a pediatric dentist to deliver unnecessary inconvenience to your child. In the future, an ugly smile can give rise to a number of complexes in a teenager, he will become closed and insecure. In addition, a malocclusion impedes oral hygiene, resulting in problems with dental health. Anticipating this, the orthodontist will offer you to begin constructive treatment from a very young age - from 5-7 years. If the parents follow the doctor’s advice, the child’s occlusion correction will be quick and almost painless.
What is she
Orthodontic plates for children are a special device made of soft plastic and metal wire of a certain thickness. They are absolutely safe: they do not cause an allergic reaction and do not injure the oral mucosa.
If a serious correction of the dentition is necessary, dental pediatric dentistry recommends the installation of a fixed plate. It represents a certain system of locks, which are regulated as the bite is corrected. Such plates for teeth for children are designed to be worn for a year and a half to two years, however, only a competent doctor can establish the deadline.
If the curvature of the teeth is not strong, you can use a removable device. An orthodontic plate of such a plan is slightly easier to perform than the one described above, and the main advantage is the ability to remove it at the right time. You need to wear it for about a year and a half.
How is the installation. Advantages and disadvantages
Each plate is individually made for an individual patient. To do this, casts of teeth are taken , which are sent to a technical laboratory. As a result, the base of the plate exactly repeats the relief of the sky of the child, which allows you to create maximum comfort when wearing the device. In this case, the wire must securely fix the plate in the correct position and, if necessary, be adjusted by the dentist.
Benefits:
- the material of which the plate is made is harmless, non-toxic and does not cause irritation;
- the plate is easy to maintain - just remove it, rinse it under running water and brush it off with a toothbrush;
- adequate price.
Disadvantages:
- in the initial period, unpleasant and painful sensations are possible;
- does not correct one or two teeth, affects the entire upper or lower jaw;
- constant monitoring of wearing and regulation of the wire at the orthodontist;
- long wearing period.
Braces or orthodontic plate?
A few decades ago, the plate was the only way to correct the bite in both children and adults. And relatively recently in medicine, a concept such as a bracket system has appeared. In principle, it is incorrect to compare these two methods, since braces are installed only from the age of 15. They are designed to correct the curvature to the end of the formed dentition, while ordinary plates here are already powerless. It should also be noted that getting used to the plate at an early age is easier and easier than in children of transitional age. And in adults, tooth correction will require a lot of patience.
Well, and it’s much easier to deal with the inconvenience in communication with a child than an adult. In addition, braces can be decorated with rhinestones, pebbles of various colors, which is especially true for adolescents. However, the cost of such a system is much higher than the price of conventional records for teeth. It will still be better for the children if the parents decide to correct the bite as early as possible - it’s also more economical in terms of money costs, and the child will sooner be rewarded with a beautiful smile.
Proper care
The orthodontic plate requires careful personal care. There are a number of rules that must be followed in order to quickly achieve the desired result, namely a beautiful smile :
- A plate for teeth must be worn at night, otherwise all treatment will be minimized in effectiveness. At first, parents should control this, as soreness persists for several days after installation.
- Do not neglect the hygiene of the orthodontic apparatus. To do this, you need to purchase a small toothbrush and a special gel for cleaning.
- In order to avoid breakdowns, as well as severe contamination, the plate must be removed before each meal. Explain this to the child and put a special container in his school backpack in which he can put it.
All orthodontic appliances have their drawbacks, but there are many more advantages. The main result of your efforts will be a beautiful and healthy smile of the child! Dental pediatric dentistry will help you with this.