Why Restorative and Orthodontic Care Is Essential For Lasting Smiles
Fashion comes in all forms and impacts all ages. While much of what is considered fashionable may change from year to year, healthy teeth are always in style. Americans, in particular, have valued a beautiful smile as an indicator of health and a point of beauty. Maintaining healthy teeth requires starting early in life and understanding why it starts with the primary teeth. Your primary, or baby, teeth are just temporary visitors that will ideally fall out on their own naturally. However, they’re doing important work for your smile during their stay. They ensure that your adult teeth come in straight and that you develop healthily. This is why it can be essential for ongoing oral health that your child receive orthodontic or restorative care.
Why Restorative and Orthodontic Care Is Essential For Lasting Smiles
To understand the importance of primary teeth on your child’s smile, we’ll start with how teeth support each other. Within our mouths, each tooth is part of an integrated system. Our teeth get support from their neighbors to ensure they remain straight. Further, the primary teeth help the jaw grow so that there is sufficient support and space for the adult teeth to grow correctly. When your child experiences an injury to their teeth or has primary teeth that are out of alignment, it’s essential to act fast. When they require both orthodontic and restorative care, it’s essential to know which, to begin with.
- Realignment vs. Restoration – Restoration restores the strength and integrity of your child’s teeth. At the same time, orthodontics primarily addresses poor bite and dental misalignment. Restorative care will ensure that your child’s teeth are healthy and robust when orthodontic care moves them into their proper position.
- Cost vs. Results – Orthodontic care is often more expensive than restorative care. While this drives some to act quickly and get their restorative care done first, some hesitate in the intent of saving for their child’s orthodontic treatment. This can be a problem as restoration care will protect the health of the teeth and ensure they are capable of withstanding orthodontic care. If only one is possible, it’s usually best to go with restorative care first.
- Isolated vs. Combined Treatment – Some children may have advanced oral health concerns that require multiple specialists to address. In this case, it’s best to consult with all the medical professionals involved to determine the treatment order.
It’s always crucial that you corroborate with others well and focus on keeping communication happening between the specialists involved in our child’s care. Doing so will ensure that the best steps possible are being taken for your child.
Work With Your Dental Care Provider For the Next Steps
Your dental care provider is going to be able to provide you with significant guidance for managing your child’s oral health. They’ll identify problems, suggest solutions, and develop a treatment plan to ensure everything is handled well. If you’re concerned about how best to manage your child’s oral health, contact their pediatric specialist today!
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