Most preteens dread having to hear they they need to have braces installed on their teeth. They may dread how this will make their teeth look and feel and may also worry that their friends will make fun of them. However, in recent years, wearing braces has become much more common among young people. This is the best way to correct imperfect teeth and leave a child with a beautiful smile that lasts a lifetime. The children’s dentist in Midlothian VA specializes in correcting problems for young patients. He works hard to make sure that young patients feel completely comfortable with him and trust that he will improve the appearance of their teeth.
When you take your child to the children’s dentist in Midlothian, VA, the dentist will first do a complete examination of the teeth and gums. X rays will also be taken so he can see how the bone structure of the teeth, gums and jaw are lined up. This gives him a good idea as to whether the child will be needing to have braces installed in the future. if the child will need braces, these are normally applied to the teeth around the age of 11 or 12 years old.
Once braces have been installed, the dentist will advise both the parent and the child of how best to care for the teeth. Normally braces will remain on the teeth around 2 years unless there are more severe problems that require them to be worn for a longer period of time. Most young patients may find that braces are a bit uncomfortable, but with the improvements that have been made in them in recent years, they are no long considered intolerable. When the braces have been removed, it will be important to wear a retainer mouth piece for at least six months after the removal. This will ensure that the teeth remain in the same straight position that wearing braces has achieved. While wearing braces may be a scary thought for young patients at first, in the long run they are usually very pleased with how beautiful their smiles now are.
For more information, visit Dr. Baxter Perkinson & Associates.
