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Children’s teeth are vital to the development of not only their oral health, but their entire physical health and mental health. Parents with children must consider the short-term and long-term benefits of training a child how to best take care of their teeth. It is incredibly important to ensure that children are brushing twice daily, flossing, and rinsing.

Oral health may be common idea that sounds positive, but the sound of it isn’t getting through to a lot of people. According to the American Association of Pediatric Dentists (AAPD), the state of children’s teeth continues to worsen over the years.

A recent study conducted by the AAPD, showed that 5-10% of children have oral health issues by the time they turn three years old. That number leaps dramatically to 60% by the time they reach five. In that number, 40% of those children will have contracted a dental carie when they enter kindergarten.

HOW DO DENTAL CARIES AFFECT CHILDREN?

It isn’t simply about cavities. Oral health issues go much further and deeper than that. According to the AAPD, poor oral health affects the mind and body. Here are some of the issues:

Oral Health

• Loss of baby teeth
• Pain
• Damage to permanent teeth
• Crooked teeth
• Vulnerable to caries and gum disease through life

General Health

• Infections to ears, sinuses, cuts and brain
• Life-threatening infections
• Poor sleeping habits
• Chewing difficulty/Malnutrition/Insufficient Growth
• Disability

Intellectual Development

• Poor speech articulation
• Poor school performance
• Missed school
• Inattention in school

Social Development

• Reluctance to speak, smile, or play
• Teasing from others
• Low self-esteem
• Social ostracism

Yes, taking care of kids teeth extremely important, which is why we are so passionate about kids’ teeth. We want your children to enjoy having a beautiful and healthy smile as they grow up, but it is only possible if they start now and remain consistent.

DOES YOUR CHILD NEED A KIDS DENTIST?

Schedule your child’s dental appointment today for pediatric dentistry. Start your child on the right path and keep them moving forward to pristine oral health. We look forward to helping you child remain strong and avoid any of those issues the AAPD mentioned.

When braces are mentioned, the typical response is that they are too expensive. At Centra Dental, we believe that a beautiful and healthy smile should never be out of the price range. This is why we have options for braces for as low as $1,995.

Our primary objective at our Southwest Houston dental clinic is to provide every patient with a positive experience, and a major part of the experience is ensuring that the dental procedure doesn’t break the bank. We try to meet every patient financially so that they can receive what they need orally at a price they can afford.

We understand how important straight teeth are. They not only increase a person’s confidence because they enrich their smile, but they also enhance a person’s oral health. Braces eliminates alignment problems in teeth, like gapped teeth, crooked teeth, or teeth that suffer from malocclusion. We discussed this in our most recent blog post, if you are searching for more details regarding this.

BRACES FOR EVERYONE

This is our goal, of course. We want everyone (those who need them) to have braces. We want everyone to have a smile they are proud to show off.

When braces are worn, the time commitment required is approximately 12 to 24 months. Considering that once they are off you will have straight teeth for the rest of your life, those one to two years don’t seem so long. The reason this time range exists is because everyone’s teeth are different. Some teeth are more misaligned than others, so they require braces for longer periods.

For those who need braces, we recommend that they receive them sooner rather than later. It is scientific fact that younger teeth belonging to adolescents are more easily moldable than teeth of patients who are older. Our orthodontists believe in the idea of early ortho.

If you are interested in affordable braces, then contact our dental office in Southwest Houston. We accept most dental plans and we make financial planning simple for every patient. We look forward to helping you achieve that bright and beautiful smile you’ve always wanted.

Not everyone is born with perfect teeth. In fact, it’s a rarity. This is why braces are in such high demand. Straight teeth always provide our south Houston patients with great confidence. They are able to smile more freely and know that they have an attractive smile that benefits their everyday life.

At Centra Dental, we provide patients, kids and adults, with a thorough dental examination to survey the state of the teeth. Not every set of teeth are the same, so not every set of teeth receives the same diagnosis. Depending on the extent of the dental issues, more time may be required, of course, the time requirement also depends on how old the patient is. Younger patients’ teeth are more pliable than older adults. There are various problems which require either less or more work. Here are some of the issues:

• Gapped Teeth - Plenty of people, young and old, have gapped teeth, even if there are only a few gaps. Some people have straight teeth all around except for in between the two front top teeth. Gaps in the teeth are a relatively simple problem to address. The braces will simply begin to push the teeth closer together until they are completely aligned. The fewer the gaps, the less time required. The younger the patients, the easier the teeth will move. For minimal gaps, patients can use any of three options we provide: traditional metal braces, ceramic braces, or clear plastic trays.
• Misaligned Teeth - This is a more serious issue as the teeth may be suffering from several problems. Misaligned means they are staggered. Teeth may be further back or upfront, but they are not in line with each other. Along with not being in line, they could also be gapped. This problem takes more time to fix and typically can’t be adjusted with plastic tray braces, or at least that is not our recommendation.
• Malocclusion - This is a major issue with teeth because it means that they are not only misaligned and gapped, but also are causing problems with chomping down. The alignment from top to bottom is off. This oral issue usually takes the longest to correct with braces, and usually with metal or ceramic braces.

IN NEED OF BRACES?

Are you suffering from any of the following dental issues? If so, you need braces to straighten out the problem. Our south Houston dental office provides various types of braces to help you smile again. Contact our office today. We look forward to helping you and your family.

Orthodontics has become one of the most sought after dental practices in the US, especially within the youth age range. Approximately 75% of people who wear braces are of the adolescent years or younger. At Centra Dental, we encourage all of our Houston patients to consider receiving braces if their teeth are crooked, misaligned, or gapped.

WHY RECEIVE BRACES?

Braces aren’t simply used for the beautification of smiles. They are used to protect the long-term health of teeth and the entire mouth.

Teeth that suffer from malocclusion, which is when teeth grow in impacted, can cause serious health risks. Problems, such as cavities, tooth decay, and gum disease, can easily arise because food particles can become lodged between or in the crevices of teeth. When this happens, the particles can decay and will negatively impact the health of the teeth and gums.

When teeth are misaligned or even gapped, food and sugars can become trapped and cause cavities. This is why we encourage all of our South Houston patients to brush twice daily and floss everyday. This greatly diminishes the risks of cavities.

When braces are placed on these teeth, however, they can become straight and therefore eliminate those hard to reach places. The safe spaces in the teeth no longer hold food particles, which helps the effectiveness of brushing and flossing.

At Centra Dental, our orthodontists understand the importance of having straight teeth and not simply the beauty of it. Our dental office, located in South Houston, offers every type of orthodontics available, including clear braces.

DO YOU NEED BRACES?

During your dental examination, our orthodontist will conduct a thorough examination of the state of your teeth. Depending on the extent of the dental issues, our dentist will recommend either traditional metal braces, clear braces, or plastic tray braces. For younger patients, like adolescents, their teeth are more adjustable and therefore can become straightened in a shorter amount of time. If your child has misaligned, crooked or gapped teeth, then braces may be just what they need. Contact our dental office today to schedule your appointment.