Orthodontics is an essential field in dental health care, especially for our little ones who are in their formative ages. Bournemouth, a significant city in the United Kingdom, offers a comprehensive range of pediatric orthodontics services that are tailored to cater to kids from their infancy to their late teenage years. As a parent, understanding pediatric orthodontics and knowing when to take your child to an orthodontist is pivotal to their overall dental health. If you’re in Bournemouth, you’re in luck. This guide is here to help you understand all you need into pediatric orthodontics in Bournemouth.
Pediatric orthodontics is a specialized branch of dentistry that deals with diagnosing, preventing, and treating dental and facial abnormalities in children. The objective is to guide the child’s facial development and growth to ensure that their maxillary (upper) and mandibular (lower) teeth meet correctly when they are fully developed, which in turn aids in proper jaw alignment and healthy oral habits.
Orthodontists in Bournemouth are well versed with the diverse needs of children and adopt a friendly, engaging approach to make your child comfortable during treatment sessions. They specialize in assessing the growth and development of baby teeth, predicting potential issues, and planning treatments accordingly.
Parents often ask, “When should our child see an orthodontist for the first time?” According to the British Orthodontic Society, it’s recommended for a child to have their first orthodontic consultation around the age of six or seven – when their permanent teeth start to come in. During this time, the orthodontist can recognize potential problems while some baby teeth are still present. Initiating the first phase of treatment at this stage can often prevent more severe problems from developing or may make treatment at a later age shorter and less complicated.
Orthodontic problems to watch out for in your child include crowded or misplaced teeth, difficulty chewing or biting, mouth-breathing, thumb or finger sucking, premature loss of baby teeth, and jaws that shift or make sounds. All these are signs that your child might need to visit an orthodontist.
The common types of orthodontic treatments available in Bournemouth include braces (the most common), special fixed appliances, fixed space maintainers, aligners, removable space maintainers, jaw repositioning appliances, lip and cheek bumpers, palatal expander, removable retainers, and headgear. The choice of treatment essentially depends on your child’s unique needs.
The journey to achieving a healthy, beautiful smile for your child begins with finding the right orthodontist. Bournemouth boasts a host of fully qualified and experienced orthodontists who are dedicated to providing exceptional orthodontic care for children of all ages. They offer a variety of treatment options using state-of-the-art techniques and equipment.
Ensuring your child’s journey to a healthy smile is comfortable, affordable, and memorable is essential. To this end, many pediatric orthodontic practices in Bournemouth offer flexible payment plans and consultations to orthodontics bournemouth help parents manage the costs of treatments.
In conclusion, starting orthodontic assessments early and ensuring regular follow-ups combined with good oral hygiene can help set the stage for your child’s lifelong oral health. Bournemouth’s pediatric orthodontists are ready to guide you and your child on this journey to promote good oral habits and wellbeing.