The ideal time to start treatment with orthodontic appliances for children is usually around 6–7 years of age. It will depend mainly on the type of malocclusion that the child presents and on the dental age, an indicator that is calculated from a panoramic X-ray and does not have to coincide with the child’s years.
We must differentiate between two types of orthodontics:
Corrective orthodontics
In which the type of appliance used is the well-known “brackets” and it is the one that is performed for children with permanent dentition, over 13–14 years of age.
The duration of the treatment varies between 18–36 months and the price of the treatment will vary depending on the needs of each patient, in general, it usually ranges between €2.500 and €4.000.
Preventive or interceptive orthodontics
It is one that is performed early when there is already a malocclusion established in the temporary or mixed dentition, through the use of orthodontic appliances or children’s dental orthopedics. These devices can be both fixed and removable. The ultimate goal is to correct or minimize existing malocclusion, as well as modify abnormal patterns of facial growth.
It is important to know that the use of a first phase of preventive orthodontics does not exempt the subsequent need for a second phase of corrective orthodontics at 13–14 years of age.
Why is early treatment with braces important for children’s teeth?
The child has great bone bioelasticity: the cleft palate has not yet ossified, and if necessary we could promote its growth. It also allows us to redirect the germs of the permanent teeth to more favorable positions. All this will allow the child to have harmonious craniofacial development and minimize the future consequences of malocclusion, providing a better prognosis for the case, both aesthetic and functional.
The treatment time varies between 9–12 months and the price of children’s orthodontics is between 1.200-2.400 €, depending on the severity and complexity of the case.
The general recommendation is that the child begin with visits to their children’s orthodontic clinic from the age of 6 and then check the evolution of their malocclusion every 6–12 months until the appropriate moment to place the interceptive or corrective appliances.
