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Getting braces can be a scary process for kids and parents alike. The procedure of getting braces can be a bit painful, and the cost of braces can reach anywhere up to $5,000 — ouch. So are braces worth it?
Children may need braces for many different reasons. Braces help fix crooked, overlapping, or overcrowded teeth along with overbites and underbites. Visiting an orthodontist will help determine if your child has any of these problems, and if braces will be the appropriate solution. By age 7, your child should see an orthodontist who will be able to detect even the most subtle problems in teeth alignment.
In some cases, however, it might benefit you and your child to wait a year or two. Some orthodontists see problems that they put in the “better-to-defer” or the “wait-and-see” category. In a 2010 interview with Antonino Secchi, an orthodontics professor at the University of Pennsylvania stated:
“Many years ago, you wouldn’t do anything until the permanent teeth were all in… And at the end, instead of having two years of orthodontics, you end up having four years of orthodontics. Instead of paying one bill you pay two bills.”
While having straight teeth is an important factor in keeping teeth clean and strong, it’s also important to keep in mind that braces are used for almost purely cosmetic reasons — and some parents are not necessarily prepared to shell out a couple thousand dollars to help with appearance.
In the end, braces are incredibly helpful when it comes to keeping teeth straight, healthy, and strong. In any situation it’s always best to consult your dentist or orthodontist to determine whether or not braces or truly “worth it,” before spending breaking out the checkbook!
