2017-11-25 07:00:00
About 35% of French people have worn braces in their lifetime, according to Statista. And often the fitting of braces or any other device is for young children.
Braces from 4 or 5 years old for the most serious cases
In order for the result to be the most optimal, it’s all regarding timing. Braces should not be applied too early or too late.
“In the most serious cases, it is possible to start as early as 4 or 5 years old. This is for example what happens for the children whose lower jaw seems too forward. It is not at all the most frequent, ”explains Dr. Jean-Marc Bellaiche, a qualified specialist in orthodontics.
In these young patients, it is better to start at an early age to ensure the best result. “This type of early treatment would work less well if we waited several years.” But, let the parents be reassured, it is very rare to start this kind of treatment so early.
7 years old, the ideal age to start orthodontic work
Generally, parents bring their child for a check-up around the age of 7. “This period is ideal for starting orthodontic work. The children are in a phase of denture mixtethat is, they have both milk teeth stable and permanent teeth “says Dr. Bellaiche.
During this consultation, the dentist will be able to identify a persistent bad bite and refer, if necessary, the young patient to an orthodontist. In the case of a increasing facial asymmetry of the child (for example, an apparent deviation of the chin), intervening as soon as possible will prevent the amplification of the phenomenon.
The impact of growth on the jaws
Contrary to some popular beliefs, it is not necessary to wait until all the baby teeth have fallen out or to pull them all out to correctly place a brace. On the contrary. “There is no obligation to wait, especially if the malocclusion is severe or causes significant aesthetic damage or creates a risk of significant trauma (example: front teeth). From a social point of view, I don’t recommend starting treatment too late. »
Indeed, the apparatus accomplishes its work with the help of the possibility of jaw growth. In boys, growth ends around 17 and around 15 in girls.
“Before the end of growth, the jaws remain malleable and can therefore more easily position themselves forward or backward depending on the work to be done”.
In older patients, the device is just as effective, but we can no longer play on the possibilities of jaw growth; other solutions exist to overcome this.
After 20 years, braces can’t fix everything
In recent years, more and more adults are using braces. For aesthetic or medical reasons, more and more of them wear dental braces or invisible gutters following their twenties. On the other hand, they are not always sufficient to correct the problem and must sometimes be associated with a jaw surgery.
And for adults, the bill is also higher than for children. Count several thousand euros for orthodontic treatment. Exceptional Social Security coverage is only possible “for one semester of treatment prior to surgery on the jaws,” Ameli specifies. Medicare covers treatment started before the 16th birthday.
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