Mouth guards for correcting malocclusion in children: what is it, features of wearing mouth guards, rules of care

When are children's aligners needed Indications and contraindications Aligner technology General treatment regimen Advantages and disadvantages What to do with care Install aligners for a child Reviews Experts

Treatment of malocclusion in a child is corrected not only by installing braces. Transparent aligners can be used to straighten teeth in children.

This replacement for the bracket system appeared relatively recently - about 15 years ago they began to be used in orthodontics. The material chosen for them is transparent biosilicone or bioplastic, which obtains the properties of strength and elasticity.

The mechanical impact is insignificant - children's mouth guards gradually straighten the teeth without causing serious pain. The second name of the instrument is aligners, which in their principle and structure are similar to adult models. You need to wear mouthguards constantly - under normal conditions, about 22 hours a day, removing them while eating and brushing your teeth.

When are children's aligners needed?

You need to correct your child’s bite right away—in the first stages, all procedures are more effective and simpler. But usually parents come to the orthodontist after 12 years. A special feature of our clinic is that we treat occlusion without braces from the age of 7, that is, even the presence of baby teeth does not prevent us from planning treatment with aligners.

If you compare this bite mechanism and classic braces, then in the aligners you can see changes in the structure and position of the teeth in advance. The technique involves 3D scanning and already at the appointment you will be able to see the result - your future smile.

This can motivate the child well and add patience to him while wearing. After the appointment, the doctor will describe all the actual treatment methods, assessing the child’s personal characteristics.

Cases when wearing a mouth guard becomes necessary:

you need to remove the gaps between the teeth;
crowded teeth;
incorrect alignment of the jaws;
rotation of teeth in different directions;
protruding jaw;
The teeth in the row are positioned incorrectly.

A dental mouth guard for children can solve the same problems as braces. With one difference - they are more comfortable for the child.

How long should you wear it and how to care for your mouth guard?

The duration of malocclusion treatment depends on the complexity of the clinical case. On average, correction takes from 10 to 24 months.

Orthodontic aligners for children are easy to use, but there are some features of their operation:

the product must be stored in a separate container;
detected traces of deformation and damage on the aligner are a good reason to refuse to wear it and immediately visit a specialist;
the mouth guard is rinsed with cool water each time it is removed from the jaw;
In the morning and evening, the device must be washed with regular soap or cleaned with a soft brush using toothpaste without abrasive components;
The product must be removed before eating;
It is forbidden to boil the mouth guards or expose them to temperature changes.

By following the listed recommendations, the patient maintains its functionality, which helps to obtain faster and more effective treatment results.

Indications and contraindications

Typically, a mouthguard for straightening teeth in children does not cause irritation and is not felt in the mouth. The transparent and flexible design fits tightly to the teeth, making it invisible to the eye. We have already named the main indications for use - they include dental pathologies of growth and its direction.

And although the doctor will warn you about possible obstacles, we will give you a list of contraindications.

Mouth guards for children are a modern, safe and effective method of treating children's malocclusion.

Types of children's mouth guards

Mouthguards for children are:

Standard. Serially produced. They have an affordable price. They are characterized by selective indications, since the product cannot correct all existing pathologies.
Thermoplastic. Made individually. Help correct complex malocclusions. Before putting on, the product is immersed in hot water. Due to its plasticity, it takes on the anatomical shape of the dentition and promotes the movement of its elements in the required direction.
Individual. Expensive treatment option. The design is developed individually for each child, taking into account the characteristics of his bite.

The doctor decides which mouthguard to choose.

Aligner technology for children: features

Dental mouth guards for a child are made to order after visiting a doctor. During the appointment, he examines the oral cavity, evaluates options for aligning and improving the bite.

How does a consultation take place at Propricus:

The doctor examines the oral cavity, makes a diagnosis (determines the pathology of the bite)
A photographic puncture is performed to determine how the bite affects the asymmetry of the face and head position. Often, malocclusion leads to changes in posture.
The child undergoes a 3D scan. This is a safe option that takes no more than 15-20 minutes and allows you to display the current location of your teeth on the monitor in 3D format.
The doctor develops a preliminary treatment plan online in the program and within 10 minutes, you and your child can see the future result of their smile, which can be achieved with the help of aligners.
The doctor discusses with you the timing, features of treatment, cost of treatment, possible installment plans.

Invisalign children's dental guards are made from a patented hypoallergenic plastic. This is especially important when a child is allergic to the materials of the braces system or there is severe irritation of the oral mucosa.

Popular brands of children's mouthguards

The dental market offers an impressive range of mouthguards that have proven their effectiveness in orthodontics. Brand names of popular manufacturers:

Ortosnap. Affordable aligners manufactured in the USA. Manufacturing material: plastic. Products from this manufacturer have proven their effectiveness and are popular among dentists and their clients.
3D Smail. Mouth guards from a Russian manufacturer. Can be used in complex clinical situations associated with malocclusion. Doctors recommend this brand in cases where wearing braces is contraindicated for some reason. Allowed for correction from 14 years of age.
Star Smile. Like 3D Smail, they are produced by a Russian manufacturer in the Kinder Smail series. Recommended for wearing by children from 6 years of age.
Invisalign Teen. Produced in the USA. The mouth guards have a carefully designed fastening system, making them comfortable to wear. Effective even in advanced clinical cases.
Clear Corret. The best solution for small patients with individual metal intolerance. The aligners from this company are safe for the child’s health and effective for correcting malocclusion.

General treatment regimen

After starting treatment, you receive a set of mouth guards, which must be changed every 7 - 14 days, as prescribed by your doctor. This can be done at home, which is a tangible advantage over braces - systems where the arch is changed only in the dentist's chair.

The aligners work due to the fact that each subsequent one is slightly different from the previous one and gradually moves the teeth into the position that we planned.

Before installation and starting the course, you need to cure caries and eliminate any inflammation on the gums.

Children's mouth guards have the advantage not only that they can be changed independently. The most problematic story of our little patients is hygiene. Children's aligners make brushing your teeth easy because they can be removed.

An orthodontic mouth guard does not cause any discomfort, and adaptation to the mouth guard occurs within a few minutes. This is the main difference from the braces system, which takes more than one day to get used to.

Features of teeth straightening using a mouthguard

The use of overlays has the following features:

For manufacturing, non-traumatic materials are used that have a gentle effect on tissues and do not cause damage;
Maintenance of the structure is simple; the mouthguards should be stored in special cases, periodically washed with plain water;
making individual impressions allows you to increase the effectiveness of treatment and achieve the desired effect;
wearing is comfortable and does not cause pain or other unpleasant sensations;
The pads only need to be worn for a couple of hours a day.

The design has few disadvantages; the main disadvantage is that they are effective for minor pathologies. If the curvature is strong or the anomaly is severe, the doctor will choose other correction options. You should also take into account that the device requires storage in a special case, otherwise it can be easily damaged. A broken pad cannot be worn, so you will have to visit a doctor to have a new one made.

Advantages and disadvantages: what is better to know in advance?

We have already briefly described the comparison of aligners and braces for a child. For the bite and its formation, mouth guards will be a gentle tool. Positive features:

simple removable device;
no restrictions on food;
no complications with hygiene procedures;
the development of caries during wear is excluded;
no damage to gums or enamel;
quick addiction;
preservation of the original appearance - transparent material is invisible.

Negative aspects may arise: you need to convince the child not to remove the children's mouth guards on their own in order to maintain the effect. Motivation from parents and doctors helps here. Among the disadvantages, we note that aligners are perceived as an expensive treatment option, although with a full calculation, you will be convinced that the final cost of a similar treatment with a brace system is comparable in cost.

Although these disadvantages seem insignificant if you focus on practicality and absence of pain. For children, these parameters seem to be the most important.

Pros and cons of using mouthguards for children

Like any medical device, mouthguards for correcting malocclusion in children have their advantages and disadvantages.

Pros:
wearing comfort;
no risk of damage to teeth and gums;
aesthetics - the products are completely transparent and invisible in use;
ease of care and use;
high effectiveness - the effect of bite correction is achieved in the same time as treatment with braces;
safe and hypoallergenic material;
fast adaptation;
minimal risk of developing caries and periodontal disease;
preservation of the quality of diction;
removable system.

Minuses:
high price;
inability to correct complex orthodontic defects;
presence of contraindications.

What to do with care?

A mouthguard for straightening teeth in children does not require specific or atypical actions. All care consists of timely replacement and storage under normal conditions. Aligners should be removed before eating - many foods can stain them. Although you are allowed to drink water without harm.

After eating, you need to rinse your mouth with water to remove any leftover food, or even better, brush your teeth. Mouthguards can only be put on a clean surface. Cleaning the product is carried out only in cool or warm water, but hot water can spoil the visual design and deform the surface.

If you notice any deformities, you should immediately consult your doctor. For sterility and hygiene, aligners are stored in a special container. And mouthguards for children often come with interesting designs for such containers.

Cost of children's mouth guards for correcting bite

Plastic and silicone mouthguards for children cannot be called cheap products, but their cost is quite justified. The price of products varies depending on the brand of the manufacturer. The average cost of one aligner in clinics in Moscow and St. Petersburg ranges from 8 to 16 thousand rubles. Taking into account the complexity of the clinical case, 10 or more such trays may be needed. The total amount of therapy is from 160 thousand rubles (for example, 3D Smail and Kinder Smail products) and includes:

orthodontist consultation and examination;
drawing up a treatment plan;
creation of casts and 3D models;
production of caps;
specialist supervision.

Reviews

Alexander

28.03.2019
I went to Natalya Sergeevna Ivanova for treatment and have been undergoing it for more than a year and a half. I am very pleased with the doctor, her attentiveness and leisurely manner. Always remembers all the nuances. Always greets you with a smile, which is rare these days. The treatment is carried out efficiently using modern equipment quickly, conveniently and comfortably. I always receive SMS messages about a future visit and they always welcome me here with pleasure. Thank you!

00:38Watch video review

Evgeniya

27.03.2019
I want to say a huge thank you to the PROPRICUS clinic, as well as to the doctors of this wonderful clinic. My acquaintance began with orthodontists. Previously, I didn’t even know that such doctors existed, but after I met Nana Karenovna and Natalya Sergeevna, I realized that the impossible can be possible. Despite the fact that all my adult life I had crooked teeth and I didn’t really want to get braces, which don’t look very aesthetically pleasing, Nana Karenovna explained to me that there are such magical things as Invisalign aligners. And now, after two years, my smile has become beautiful, and now I can smile without embarrassment.

00:57Watch video review

Natalia

13.03.2019
I have been receiving treatment at the PROPRICUS clinic for a long time. I thought that my case was completely hopeless and since childhood I have suffered and been tormented by the fact that I have crooked teeth. And it was just terrible. By chance, I came across Nana Karenovna on Instagram and initially I came to her for treatment when the PROPRICUS clinic did not yet exist. First of all, I liked her, and when you like a doctor, you are ready, of course, to trust him. My treatment to correct my bite lasted a little over two years. After my bite returned to normal, I needed to have aesthetics done. And the PROPRICUS clinic, represented by the wonderful orthopedist Nikolai Ivanovich Lavrenenko, also came to my aid. He made veneers on my front teeth and ceramic inlays on my old fillings. And now I still need to get an implant on one tooth and of course I will continue treatment at my favorite PROPRICUS clinic. Many thanks to the clinic and all my doctors. You are true professionals in your field. And if my friends or acquaintances need to do something, I will only recommend your clinic to them. Thanks a lot!

01:34Watch video review

Indications for use of transparent aligners

The method of correcting a bite with mouthguards is indicated in the following cases:

individual teeth are incorrectly positioned;
crowding or sparseness;
slight curvature of the dentition;
mild crossbite, open bite or distal bite;
displacement of dental units due to tooth loss;
disruption of closure as a result of injury;
to consolidate the result after wearing braces.

As an independent technique, it is mainly used during the period of baby teeth and the transition to molars - 3 - 10 years.