So, you want to straighten up your kids teeth but you’re not sure what the best option is?
First of all, you need to know the difference between braces and aligners.
Let us lay it all out for you to be able to decide for yourself.
Braces are the ‘traditional’ wire brackets that you are used to seeing. It attaches to the teeth and forms a structure around them to slowly bend them into the desired alignment.
Aligners are a newer method of straightening teeth that have emerged in the last few years.
It consists of many sets of plastic molds that slowly straighten your teeth as you replace them one after another until you get the desired result.
Now that you have a rough idea of what braces and aligners are, lets get into the pros and cons of each option.
Braces
Pros
Firstly, braces are semi-permanent, so you wont have to worry about them falling off or getting misplaced.
The only person who will be able to take them out completely is a dentist who has the right tools. This means your child does not need to hold responsibility over the issue of how well the braces are working.
Next, if you are looking for a more effective method for complex corrections, braces are a better choice.
This is sometimes the only option for very crooked teeth. The use of wires and brackets make traditional braces stronger for moving their position.
Braces also tend to get better results than aligners since they are a more aggressive type of treatment.
The constant adjusting and monitoring from your dentist ensures that the end result is near perfect.
Lastly, there are different types of braces that can make this journey more comfortable.
There are ceramic braces that are not as heavy, or lingual braces that go behind the teeth for a seamless look.
Cons
It is undeniable that braces do not look very nice, especially for young children or teens who are beginning to get self-conscious. For aesthetic purposes, traditional braces are probably not your first choice.
Next, a very inconvenient part of having braces is that certain foods are off limits.
Food like candy, chocolate, popcorn, or anything that is likely to get stuck in between their teeth should be avoided or at least reduced greatly.
It is not just a matter of cleanliness; hard or chewy food can spoil the hardware of the braces.
Additionally, the wires and brackets of a set of braces can cause your kids a lot of difficulty brushing their teeth.
It is hard to get into the small spaces between the teeth and hardware.
Even if they use a special brush, the tedious process might make them skip brushing altogether, leading to cavities and decay.
Another con, braces are definitely the more uncomfortable option.
Wires can poke your child’s mouth and the brackets get caught on their lips while talking.
It is one of the worst parts of the experience, and to top that they cannot adjust it without professional help.
Lastly, is duration.
The expected period that your child will have to wear braces is at least two years, sometimes taking up to five years. This is the much longer option and can get frustrating for them over time.
Aligners
Pros
No one can deny that aligners look better. They are almost unnoticeable as they are made of clear plastic and conform to the shape of your teeth.
Additionally, your child can take out their aligners when they need to, and this can make the process much easier. If it gets overwhelming or starts to hurt, they have the option of removing it to take a break sometimes.
Next, it is much easier to brush their teeth with aligners.
Since they can take them out, brushing teeth just like normal and they can just pop them back on afterwards.
Finally, aligners take less time to complete the treatment.
The maximum amount of time for a younger child is about two years and even for those past their teenage years it will take about three years.
Cons
Both a blessing and a curse, the fact that you can take aligners out means that you can misplace them as well. Especially when eating out, it is easy to forget the aligners as you leave. It is important to keep track of them because even one lost set can damage the progress.
The next con is aligners can get dirty easily.
The plaque and debris from your kids teeth gets stuck on the plastic as they sleep and need to be cleaned off daily.
It can be difficult to reach the nooks and crannies in the mold, which makes it easy to accidentally leave dirt in there as they put them back on.
Aligners are a good option but not as effective as traditional braces in certain cases.
They use plastic instead of metal and aren’t as durable.
When it comes to shifting the position of teeth, they just do not work as well for very serious cases.
Additionally, this makes it difficult for older patients who don’t have as much mobility in their teeth.
Lastly, your child holds a lot of responsibility in making sure their treatment works.
If your child is not disciplined enough to ensure they wear the aligners for 20 to 22 hours a day, the treatment will not be effective. Cleaning their teeth properly in between is also on them.
What Comes Next
Hopefully this breakdown of the pros and cons of both options can help you pick out the one that is right for your child.
Price-wise, they are about the same – averaging around RM5000 to RM 7500 at private clinics.
Take your child’s needs into consideration and have a talk with your dentist to be completely sure about your decision. The main thing is that they do not go through a bad experience and are happy with the results.
You’ve got this, parents!
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