Child orthodontics in Mallorca

Orthodontics aims to improve the alignment of the teeth and the bite or occlusion. The ideal in the treatment of these problems is early detection and even prevention, so that growth can be taken advantage of. If this is not possible because they are already adolescents or even adults, it will be necessary to use other types of orthodontics and even other treatments (such as orthognathic surgery) to achieve the desired results. So, in general terms we can say that correction can be offered at any age, with children being the most optimal.

In the process of correcting correct jaw formation and putting teeth in place, orthodontists can use a multitude of appliances and techniques. In each case, we will select the treatment that best suits the age and needs of the patient. We will also take into account that it should be as minimally invasive as possible, i.e. that it should be the least invasive possible and use 3D technology to guarantee the results.

There are various types of orthodontic treatment depending on the problem to be corrected and the age of the patient:

• Preventive treatment aims to eliminate childhood habits that can lead to dentofacial deformities. It is generally applied in the milk teeth, i.e. between 3 and 6 years of age, and the most common treatment is usually the space maintainer or the tongue retainer.
• Interceptive treatment is aimed at facilitating the normal eruption of the permanent teeth and improving the size and position of the maxillary bones, generally when the replacement of milk teeth with permanent teeth begins, i.e. it is applied between 6 and 11 years of age.
• Corrective treatment is carried out after the age of 12, by which time all the permanent teeth should have erupted. The objective, in this case, is to place the teeth once the maxillary bones have the appropriate position and size.

It depends on the treatment. As this involves the placement of fixed appliances such as brackets, check-ups are usually scheduled every 4 to 6 weeks depending on the needs of each patient. During these check-ups, the orthodontist will supervise the progress of the treatment and manipulate the appliance to activate the necessary micro-movements, so that the teeth will progressively move until they reach the desired position.

In the case of Invisalign Teen, that is, the fitting of transparent aligners, it will be necessary to replace them more frequently (every 2 weeks), however, the visit will last less time than with the other systems. In both treatments, at Arcdental we use the latest 3D technology to predict the results and guarantee them.

It is essential to have a balanced diet, however those users of conventional braces may experience some discomfort when drinking a more acidic or gummy product that gets caught between the brackets. In this case, the most important thing is to carry out proper oral hygiene after each meal, following the advice of the orthodontist.

Arcdental braces have the advantage of being made by highly qualified prosthetists, which means that their resistance to fracture is very high. Even so, they are not exempt from domestic accidents. For example, it is always necessary to be more careful when eating harder foods such as some nuts and dried fruit.

On the other hand, unlike what happens with orthodontic treatments that use brackets, with Invisalign aligners there is no food that you should be more careful with, as long as you remove the aligners at the time of eating, although they can become stained if you abuse the consumption of coloured drinks such as soft drinks or processed juices.

Provided that the periodontal disease suffered by the child or adolescent is under control and under treatment, it is possible to resort to orthodontic treatment. However, it is advisable to consult a paediatric dentist who will be able to draw up the best personalised treatment plan in collaboration with the orthodontist. Hence the suitability of going to a centre specialised in these areas of dentistry such as Arcdental.