Are Dental Braces Difficult for Children With Autism to Wear?
Posted on: 23 February 2021
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A lot of the success of orthodontic treatment depends on patient compliance. What does this mean? Consider dental braces, which work by progressively repositioning teeth with gentle pressure, delivered via the archwire applying gentle pressure to the brackets attached to each tooth. If you are the parent of an autistic child who needs braces, you might be wondering if your child will be able to comply with the necessities for successful treatment.
Patient Compliance
What does patient compliance involve in terms of braces? Although the braces do much of the work, patient compliance is required in a number of ways, such as the patient tolerating mild discomfort with each tightening of the archwire. There's also the fact that the braces can act as a platform for harmful oral bacteria, so diligent oral hygiene is mandatory. You know your child better than anyone, so you might already have an idea about whether or not these aspects of wearing braces will be problematic for your child.
An Unknown Outcome
Of course, it's not always possible to know how your child will cope with braces until they're installed. Although they're intended to stay in place for an extended period of time, they can be removed if it appears that they will be unsustainable. But if regular dental braces aren't a suitable solution for your child, does this mean that they will have to go without orthodontic treatment?
Avoiding Treatment
Simply avoiding orthodontic treatment isn't advised. The reason for your child's teeth being misaligned will not resolve itself and can lead to more serious complications in the years to come. An orthodontist can offer a few alternatives, although the onus is still on you and your child to ensure that a high standard of dental hygiene is maintained.
Damon Braces
Damon braces might be an option for your child. The key difference between Damon braces and regular braces is the way in which they apply pressure to your child's teeth in order to realign them. Instead of an archwire (which is regularly tightened), these braces use a slide mechanism that adjusts itself as the teeth move. This results in less pressure on the teeth, meaning they're more comfortable. These are not generally suitable for severe orthodontic issues, so it's also a matter of the nature of the problem, as opposed to simply being chosen to accommodate your child's autism.
Transparent Aligners
A form of transparent aligners is another good choice. While these are intended to be worn for the vast majority of the day, they can be removed by the user, so if the discomfort becomes an issue, they can be temporarily removed. This should only be an absolute last resort since transparent aligners are reliant on daily wear as per the timetable set by your child's orthodontist.
The patient compliance required for orthodontic treatment may present some obstacles for your child, but fortunately, you have options. For more information about orthodontic treatment, reach out to a local orthodontist's office.