If you have an adolescent at home who is frustrated by crooked teeth, you’re not alone. Many pre-teens and teenagers start to feel self-conscious about their appearance and are eager to make changes. Thankfully, your pediatric dentist can straighten them with traditional orthodontics. This tried-and-true method has a long history of helping people of all ages realign their grins to improve their oral health and enhance their appearance.
It’s important to be well-informed when you’re making decisions that can permanently alter the state of your child’s smile. You don’t want to take any chances when choosing the right treatment. With that in mind, keep reading to learn 3 facts about braces that you might not already have known!
Fact #1: They’re Nearly 300 Years Old
You might be surprised to learn that traditional orthodontics have been around for a very long time—nearly 300 years, to be exact! The first set was made in 1728 by a French physician named Pierre Fauchard. This early version consisted of a flat piece of metal attached to patients’ teeth with thread.
This rudimentary prototype was upgraded in 1915 when another dentist (Edward Angle) created brackets out of gold for their malleability. It wasn’t until 1959 that NASA developed nickel-titanium, a heat-resistant metal that dentists learned could be used to make thin, flexible wires that would retain their shape when threaded across braces on people’s pearly whites.
Fact #2: They’re A Popular Solution
If your adolescent has avoided braces because they think they’re worried they’ll stand out in a bad way, you can set their mind at ease with this tidbit. Although they have been around for centuries, they’re still a popular treatment in today’s contemporary culture. An estimated 4.8 million Americans are currently wearing traditional orthodontics, and 80% of them are children or teens, and the average age range for them is between 9 and 14 years old.
That means plenty of youths have these metallic brackets bonded to their teeth, so your kid is in good company!
Fact #3: They’re Not Magnetic
Some young people are worried that their braces will set off metal detectors, but that’s fortunately not the case. Many schools today have these in place at their entrances as a safety precaution, and your child might be concerned that they’ll set them off every day.
Thankfully, traditional orthodontics are composed of high-grade alloys that don’t exhibit magnetic attraction, so they won’t trigger the alarms. They also won’t pick up on radio signals for the same reason.
Now that you and your child know more about braces, you can make an educated decision about the best method for realigning their grin.
About the Practice
At Waterford Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics, your child benefits from a team of highly qualified pediatric dentists who offer a full range of services to help them build and maintain their oral health. They also have an orthodontist in-office so that you don’t have to seek outside providers to straighten their smile. They’re experienced working with kids of all ages and can help improve their dental condition regardless of their unique needs. They combine state-of-the-art technology with a family-friendly environment to enhance patient comfort and provide accurate treatment results. If you’re interested in braces for your child and need a consultation, you’re welcome to request one on the website or by calling (925) 803-6880.