Teeth straightening plates for children

If a child's teeth grow unevenly, these days this will not be an insoluble problem. Techniques have now been developed to correct the position of teeth from an early age. One of them is the installation of alignment plates.

Features:

Equalizing Plates, also called retainers or braces, are used to correct malocclusion in a child when they are just beginning to develop. They are recommended for single pathologies, and are also prescribed after the application of braces in order to consolidate their effect.

Some models of plates differ in their structure, but all such orthodontic appliances have the same basic elements - a plate, a wire (arc) and a mount. For the plate itself, soft or medium hard plastic of different colors is used. It is bent to match the shape of the baby's palate. The main function of such a plastic is to hold the arc made of titanium-nickel alloy.

It is the arc that provides a leveling effect, since it has a "memory" - the initially adopted shape of the wire does not change during the load during chewing.

It continuously acts on the incorrectly positioned crowns of the teeth and causes their gradual displacement. And since the impact force is not too great, the arc does not harm the root system of the teeth. Wire thickness may vary depending on the situation.

The plate mount is represented by a special mechanism in the base, equipped with a small screwdriver. In some plates, the design includes additional elements, for example, built-in activators, which are regularly twisted so that the arc remains tightly tensioned.

Kinds

All plates used in children are divided into:

Removable. This is the most common type of plates that are hooked to the teeth. They are worn daily, but removed periodically. The main advantages of such structures are ease of use and low price. However, the removable plate can only be used when aligning one tooth, provided that it is slightly displaced. Depending on the features of the structure and purpose, removable plates are single-jaw, with an arm-shaped process, with an active springy pusher, with a retraction arch and others.
Non-removable. Such plates are usually recommended for the correction of a group of teeth, which requires long-term exposure. In their design there are locks through which the arc is passed. They are needed to periodically tighten the plate so that the crowns remain under the right pressure. Due to the presence of locks, a fixed plate is more expensive.

Indications

Plates are prescribed for:

Displacement of one tooth.
Incorrect placement of several teeth.
The rare arrangement of dental crowns.
Problems with the development of the jaw bones.
Slowing down or intensifying the growth of the jaw.
Narrowing of the sky.
Desire to prevent tooth displacement after using braces.

Watch the following video on teeth straightening plates.

Contraindications

Do not use the leveling plates if your child:

Periodontitis has developed.
There is an allergy to the components from which the device is made.
There are respiratory diseases.
There are teeth affected by caries.

Bite correction

The most common indication for the use of leveling plates is an abnormal milk or interchangeable bite. Such an appointment is justified, because with such a bite, the position of the teeth is quite easily corrected and does not require a large load.

In this case, it is only the dentist who should decide whether the plate is needed, and also monitor its correct installation. Since the root system of deciduous teeth is less strong, there is a risk of loss due to excessive pressure on the teeth.

Care

Although flexible plastic and hardened metal are used to make the alignment plates, improper care of the unit can cause damage. You need to take care of the braces like this:

Every day (at least 1 time), the plate is cleaned with a soft toothbrush and regular toothpaste or a special gel.
The staples are treated weekly with a solution that provides deep disinfection. For this, the plate is placed in the solution overnight.
Remove the plate before each meal.
Before each installation, the plate is washed with warm boiled water.
A special container is used to store the structure.
If the plate breaks, it must be taken to a doctor immediately.
To prevent the turning screw from jamming, it is advised to lubricate it with a drop of oil.

Should I install plates or braces?

At an early age, orthodontists often recommend the installation of plates, and braces are used to correct teeth in children over 12-14 years old.

The use of braces at an earlier age can affect the development of the skull bones.

LP prices

Installation of an alignment plate is much cheaper than using a bracket system - about 2-3 times. To find out the answer to the question "how much does it cost to put the records?", You need to take into account various factors. The cost of the device is influenced by the design features of the plate, its materials and the level of the clinic in which the staples will be installed.

On average, you need to pay up to 10 thousand rubles for an ordinary plate of a standard color made of medium hard plastic without additional parts. If the plastic is colored or softer, the cost will rise by 2 thousand or more.

Plates with one screw cost an average of 9 thousand rubles, and each additional screw increases the price by 1-2 thousand rubles. If you need to install a special flap for the tongue on the device, this will add 500-1500 rubles to the cost of the plate. Devices that help correct the position of the chewing teeth cost 14 thousand rubles on average.

Installation process

The production of the plate must be strictly individual. First, the orthodontist examines the child to identify problems, and also sends the little patient for an X-ray. Based on the examination, the doctor chooses the type of plate and tells the patient and his parents about the principles of the device.
Having taken a wax impression from the child's teeth, it is used to create a plaster model, on the basis of which the plate is made. The second visit to the doctor includes installation and fitting of the structure, which takes approximately 10 minutes.
Next, the doctor will inform the parents about the features of care, the need to adjust the arc (if provided), as well as the duration of the use of the plates. On average, such a device is worn for about 2 years. If the device is removable, it is advised to wear it for at least 21 hours a day, removing it only for the period of brushing your teeth and eating.

As with all orthodontic appliances, leveling plates take some getting used to. In the early days, due to their use, the child may have discomfort and sometimes even painful sensations. Speech may be impaired and salivation may increase. As a rule, all such adaptation symptoms disappear within 3-7 days after installation.

Tips

Since the removable plate is a foreign device, the child will have a desire to remove it, so the parents will have to monitor this moment. It should be explained to the child that for the alignment to be effective, the plate should be worn most of the day. If you remove it continuously, the results will appear more slowly, which will require longer walking with the device.

It is also important to pay great attention to caring for the child's oral cavity. The child must brush his teeth twice a day, removing the plate for this period, and also clean the structure itself.

Reviews

Alignment plates are very popular, but since these fixtures have both advantages and disadvantages, the reviews are very different. Someone is satisfied with the use of the plates and the result in the form of even teeth, while someone did not like this straightening of the teeth, as it brought more difficulties than expected.

Especially often they complain about speech distortion and the need to constantly remove the plate for eating, which causes a lot of inconvenience if the child does not eat at home.