Early Orthodontic Treatment

Early Intervention Orthodontics: Your Child’s Best Smile and well being!

Is your child snoring? Do they have trouble breathing? Maybe they even have difficulty chewing and eating?
Yes, these are issues we understand very well at Templestowe Dental Clinic. Our philosophy is to look after our patient as a whole and not just look at their teeth.
Crooked teeth at an early age can be a warning sign for underlying problems such a sleep breathing, grinding, mouth breathing!

What if you could ensure your child has perfect teeth when they grow up?

Having good teeth is not only critical to oral health, it helps your loved ones to be proud of their beautiful smiles. It’s important to preempt dental issues while your child is still in a period of rapid growth because it prevents issues from developing,plus there are more effective treatment options available before the jaw stops growing.The long-term benefits of early intervention orthodontics ensure that

your child has room for all of their adult teeth;preventing overcrowding and minimising the chances of unnecessary extractions later on. Treatment usually begins between the ages of 7-10 years old, but it’s never too late to get help. Our treatments can start at any age.

Why Is Early Intervention Important?

One of the main reasons children end up needing braces is they just don’t have enough room in their jaw arch. Even from 6 or 7 years old, your child might display signs of not having enough room for all of their adult teeth. While some parents think they should wait for their child to finish growing before seeing an orthodontist, it is much easier and better for their health to treat potential issues while they are still growing. With early intervention, we may be able to avoid surgery and unnecessary removal of perfectly good teeth to make space. In fact, facial growth finishes before the rest of the body, usually between the ages of 12 and 14 years old.

How To Know If Your Child Needs Treatment

While an adorable buck-tooth grin might be cute on an 8-year-old, it can actually be a sign forewarning future dental issues. Most kids won’t have perfect teeth, but parents can help their children early so that they have better teeth in adulthood. The bone ratio for the top to the bottom jaw is not always naturally correct, meaning that the lower jaw can be set too far back and result in the top teeth protruding slightly outward. In other cases, the upper jaw might be too narrow due to the tonsils or adenoids. If your child has slightly or exaggerated buck teeth, it’s best to get this checked. Our well-trained Clinicians will let you know if the treatment can wait or if the early intervention will save a lot of trouble later on in life.

Signs That Your Child May Require Early Intervention Orthodontics

Difficulty breathing
Poor posture
Mouth breathing
Heavy breathing or snoring while asleep
Crooked or crowded teeth
Clicking jaw
Difficulty when chewing or eating
Teeth grinding
Speech issues

Treatment Options

Children are in a period of rapid growth, so issues relating to the size and shape of their jaw can be more easily corrected before the shape becomes truly fixed. A palatal expander is a device used to treat the problem of overcrowding before it even happens. It is placed in the upper jaw to expand the arch and ensure your child will have room for all of their adult teeth. This also helps their teeth to grow in straighter because it removes the problem of overcrowding, and reduces the need for braces. Some children will need a palatal expander in conjunction with braces, which fully corrects into the perfect smile. We will give parents a sleep questionnaire to fill out and at times a referral to an ENT may be needed.

We know that as a parent you always want what’s best for you child. For them to have great teeth later on in life, early intervention is often key. However, not all children who have crooked or overcrowded teeth will necessarily have a problem with jaw size or facial structure. If you’re not sure, it’s always safest to make an appointment so that your dentist can see your child and identify if their teeth are on the right track. As they say, it’s better safe than sorry.

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