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Expert Q&A
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| By Catrise Austin Cosmetic and General Dentist | ||
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How does a dentist determine if braces are needed?
Most dentists will determine if braces are needed by questioning the parent and/or patient, performing a clinical evaluation of the patient, analyzing the clinical records, and then developing a list of problems that could be improved with braces.
The purpose of the interview is to determine what bothers the parent or child about their teeth. The concern will usually either be the child's esthetic appearance or a developmental concern that causes impaired function of the teeth or jaws. With this information, the doctor is able to find out what is most important to the patient and address the patient's concerns accordingly. The dentist will then take a thorough medical and dental history. The purpose of the history is to establish if there are any hereditary components to the child's problem, to determine if the child suffered any trauma, to evaluate the rate at which the child is growing (especially in the area of tooth eruption), and if the child is overall healthy.
Next the dentist will perform various clinical evaluations. Facial measurements will be taken to determine how proportionate and symmetric the face is. The child's oral health will evaluated to determine if the child has cavities, nerve damage, fractured teeth or signs of gum disease. The rule of thumb is that any problems of disease must be addressed before the child gets braces to ensure orthodontic success. The child's jaw/tooth position and function will be evaluated to determine if the patient has normal movements. X-rays, photos and/or moldings of the child's teeth may also be taken by the dentist to aid in the diagnosis and treatment of the patient. The dentist can then use these records to further analyze the child's spacing/crowding and symmetry. Once the analysis of all of the dental records is complete, the dentist can develop a problem list and properly advise if braces are needed.
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