August 20, 2020
You want the best for your child, and oftentimes that means getting the best the first time.
Sadly, not all professionals are capable of living up to their promises. Other times, you may have been on the mark with your orthodontist, but helping your child with the upkeep after the fact proved challenging.
In any case, sometimes a second treatment of orthodontic care is in order. And if you’re wondering whether you and your family may be in need of another round, here’s what to keep in mind:
Signs Your Orthodontic Treatment May Not Have Been Done Right
If you suspect your child’s initial braces or other orthodontic treatment may not have been completed adequately or safely the first time, you’ll want to take care to discuss their physical condition with them — to ask them if they are experiencing pain or discomfort — as well as bring them to a dentist to inspect the current state of their teeth.
That being said, some indications that their orthodontist may not have completed proper care
may include:
● Their gum line is receding.
● There appears to be tooth wear despite good hygiene.
● Their teeth don’t feel comfortable or don’t seem to “sit right” or “fit” in their mouth.
● Their jaw isn’t aligned correctly or there are problems with your child’s bite that were not there prior to receiving orthodontic work.
Maintaining & Preventing The Necessity For Future Work
In some cases, it is not that the first round of orthodontic care was performed incorrectly, so much as it is that following maintenance routines were not kept up with after the process was complete.
For example, if your child stopped wearing their retainer, their teeth may begin to shift back into a new crooked position, or otherwise gravitate back toward their pre-orthodontic positions.
Otherwise, poor oral hygiene or even the child’s general aging may cause new misalignments, such as when their wisdom teeth begin to grow in and cause new shifts that were not previously present.
Finally, bruxism — or the nightly grinding of one’s teeth in their sleep — can also cause damage, requiring your child to wear a nightguard to keep from hurting their teeth or their jaw.
Finding An Orthodontist You Can Trust
In any of the aforementioned cases, it’s imperative that you bring them to a clinically-certified orthodontic professional to assess how to correct the problems at hand.
Moreover, it’s important to find an orthodontist that you can trust with your child’s health and safety. That’s what SouthShore Orthodontics is here for — to provide excellent results and exceptional service in a welcoming environment!
Dr. Matt Ahrens isn’t only passionate about the impact a beautiful smile can have on someone’s life, but he has a rich and skilled history as a board-certified orthodontist, including even having designed his own Simply SouthShore aligners for patients who have already received orthodontic work in the past!
We’re here to help. Contact us by calling (813) 815-0080 to schedule an appointment today!