Orthodontics for Children
How can you tell if your child needs early Orthodontic treatment?
Your child might be a candidate for early Orthodontic intervention if they:
- have a speech impediment such as a lisp;
- tend to breathe through their mouth constantly due to a stuffy nose;
- experiences pain, discomfort or tension in their mouth or jaw;
- has a habit of thumbsucking that does not drop off as they get older;
- have visibly crooked or misaligned teeth; or,
- your child has difficulty eating due to their teeth or bite.
Instead of guessing whether or not it’s time to take your son or daughter to a Specialist Orthodontist, give yourself some peace of mind by having them assessed now. We recommend that all children come in for an Orthodontic check up around the age of 8 years old, irrespective of any obvious Dental problems.
Advantages of early intervention.
Having your child’s facial growth and dental development checked by a Specialist Orthodontist between the ages of 7-9 years old can make a dramatic difference to the way you manage the development of Dental problems as they get older.
An early assessment means we can identify the problems sooner and offer the most suitable options and timing for future Orthodontic treatment in order to achieve the best possible results.
While most young children with a mix of ‘baby’ and adult teeth won’t require interceptive treatment at this young age, early detection and correction where needed can minimise the need for further complex treatment as a teenager or adult, and can avoid the need for Dental extractions in many cases.
Interceptive Orthodontics for young children is beneficial and popular because it often means less overall treatment time, and elimination of unnecessary suffering caused by emerging Dental issues. Children’s bones are more supple while they’re growing, which means it’s easier and more effective to expand the Dental arches and modify jaw growth and move teeth into the correct position.
Basically, you're making a difficult malocclusion easier to treat later on to achieve a great smile.
What can we treat at such a young age?
Orthodontic treatment for children can intervene and correct, as a first stage, a wide range of Dental issues.
We can treat:
- protruding front teeth;
- spaced incisors;
- impacted teeth;
- missing teeth;
- overbite, underbite and crossbite;
- severe overcrowding; and,
- underdeveloped or small jaws.
Habit Problems
Interceptive Orthodontics for children can help to control behavioural habits such as thumb and finger sucking and tongue thrusting. These habits can move teeth out of alignment in early life if they persist, while bones are soft and still developing.
They can even alter the growth of the jaws causing facial structural changes which can be difficult to correct later on.
Breathing Problems
If you notice your child has difficulty breathing normally through their nose due to stuffiness and is breathing through their mouth, it’s a good idea to seek advice from a Specialist Orthodontist. This habit can cause your child’s tongue to function differently, gradually shifting the alignment of their teeth and jaw into the wrong position. You may also need to see an Ear Nose and Throat Specialist.
Come in and meet with us.
Is it time to book your child in to see Dr Pistolese?
If you’re worried about your child’s teeth, or would like to have their teeth assessed early to make sure they’re developing properly, book your consultation online by completing the form on the right and Inner West Orthodontics will contact you to sort out an appointment time.
