How to Apply Braces on Children's Teeth

In order to apply braces on children's teeth, you will need to bring your child to an orthodontist. An orthodontist specializes in realigning the teeth and in repairing existing issues pertaining to overbites. He is also qualified to safely apply braces to your child's teeth.

Things You'll Need

• Bands
• Brackets
• Bonding material
• Spacers
• Archwires
• Buccal tube

Instructions

The Process

1. Take your child to an orthodontist for an initial evaluation. This evaluation involves the completion of a full oral exam, the reviewing of your child's dental/medical history and the collection of teeth impressions. The orthodontist then takes photos of your child's face and profile, and takes and review x-ray images of your child's upper and lower teeth.

2. Determine if your child requires the removal of one or more teeth in order to make all of his teeth fit properly into the correct alignment. If it is necessary, your child's teeth will have to be extracted in order to make sufficient room for other teeth. Occasionally, the extraction process is replaced with an expansion process in which your child uses an expander that increases the size of his palate.

3. Apply the necessary bands and brackets on each individual tooth. Bands are attached to brackets and help to keep brackets fixed into position. The bands used are sometimes made of ceramic, and are sometimes crafted from resistant stainless steel. Brackets are tiny squares made out of metal or ceramic. They may be placed in the back of the teeth or in the front of the teeth, depending upon what is deemed suitable and appropriate.

4. Attach each bracket to a single tooth with super durable adhesive. Then, expose the tooth to a special light so that the adhesive can harden.

5. Insert spacers directly between teeth for proper positioning, if your child's orthodontist deems it necessary. These items are tiny devices used to create a separation between teeth when bands are used.

6. Thread nickel-titanium archwire so that it is fixed between two secured brackets, and secure the wire with metal or elastic ligatures as well as with buccal tubes. Buccal tubes are used to anchor the archwire to the final tooth in the line of teeth being straightened.
   Archwires are attached to brackets that hold the wire into a fixed position. They are directly attached to brackets via ties, which are made out of rubber material. If the ligatures are elastic, then your child can choose what color ligature he would like.

7. Visit your child's orthodontist repeatedly to ensure that the braces are moving the teeth and are holding the teeth in the proper position for optimal tooth alignment.

Tips & Warnings

• Sometimes the use of braces is associated with minor irritation and pain; this type of pain can be addressed with the use of over-the-counter medications. Children that are active in sports are required to use a special mouthguard to protect their mouth and braces during athletic activities. If a bracket comes loose, your child will have to visit the orthodontist in order to have it replaced or repaired. Upon the removal of braces, your child is often required to use a device called a retainer to ensure that his teeth remain in the correct position until the bones and gums in his mouth completely adapt to the new alignment of the teeth.