How do I prepare a child who is nervous about getting braces?

What you say at home is the parent’s decision

The parent decides how braces are talked about at home, and the AAO’s advice for a hesitant child is specific: “Speak positively about the experience, emphasizing the benefits.” The AAO also suggests telling the child that the orthodontist and team will do everything possible to make the process go smoothly, and it says books and videos about getting braces “can also make the transition easier for young ones.”

Speaking positively does not have to mean promising that nothing will be felt. The AAO says to expect some mild discomfort for the first few days after braces go on and calls it temporary, so a parent can stay calm and still be honest. Carvalho & Roth Orthodontics covers keeping the earlier first visit positive in its post on a child’s first orthodontic visit.

The questions a child can bring

A child can bring any question to the orthodontist and team; the first-visit page at Carvalho & Roth Orthodontics encourages patients to ask any questions. The AAO says prepared questions help make sure nothing is forgotten, so a short list written at home with your child is a simple first step.

Some questions a child may ask already have answers on the practice’s pages, from foods to avoid with braces to brushing and flossing with braces. A child who worries about a poking wire or a loose bracket can be told that the practice lists loose brackets, minor discomfort and poking archwires as non-urgent on its emergency information page.

Picking a start date with the orthodontist

The start date for braces is a question to settle with the orthodontist, not one to guess at home. Carvalho & Roth Orthodontics says on its same-day braces page that “In many cases, patients can begin treatment on the same day as their consultation.” For a hesitant child the trade-off runs both ways: a same-day start leaves less time to worry, while a later appointment leaves time for books and videos about getting braces. If your child needs more time, say so at the consultation so the orthodontist can weigh it.

What the day braces go on involves

The AAO’s description of braces day gives a parent concrete details to share. The AAO says no special preparations are needed beyond eating as usual and brushing and flossing thoroughly, and it recommends a visit to the family dentist for a cleaning and check-up before getting braces. When braces are applied, the AAO says, a retractor is placed “to keep the mouth open comfortably.” At the end of the appointment, the AAO says, a team member goes over brushing and flossing with braces, the foods to avoid and what to do about any difficulties, which the AAO calls “a great time to ask any questions about the care of your new braces.”

For the days after, the AAO says there can be some initial discomfort when braces are placed or adjusted, that it is temporary, and that “Overall, orthodontic discomfort is short-lived and easily managed.” The AAO also says a patient should be fine going to school and taking part in usual activities on the day braces are applied, and its FAQ on braces and aligners answers the question “Will you use needles?” with “No.” Your orthodontist gives the care instructions for your child, including what to do about soreness.

Where the practical details come from

The practical details for your child come from the consultation. The first consultation at Carvalho & Roth Orthodontics runs from an initial examination with digital photos and X-rays to a discussion of options such as braces and Invisalign, then a piece-by-piece account of the type of treatment, the length and the cost, with questions encouraged. All of your care is provided by the same Harvard-trained orthodontists at each visit.