At around seven to nine years of age, your child’s permanent teeth should begin coming through and this is the perfect time for them to visit the orthodontist.
Early orthodontics is important for correcting issues as the jaw is still soft and pliable.
This means orthodontic issues are fixed easier, and treatments are faster and more effective than on adults.
The orthodontist during the first appointment with your child will assess tooth structure and jaw development. By doing this, the orthodontist will be able to find present or future orthodontic issues.
If you find out your child will have future issues, it allows both the orthodontist and you to prepare for future treatments.
Early intervention lays foundations for a straighter smile and healthier mouth in the future.
The following characteristics may indicate that your child requires orthodontic attention, including:
These issues should be addressed by an orthodontist as early as possible to receive the most effective treatment and reduce chances of later complications.
The clear advantage is that a child’s jaw is still growing and easily shaped by orthodontic appliances to grow into the correct position and size. However, this may not correct issues completely, but it will most likely reduce and make treatment later on less complex.
Benefits of early orthodontic includes:
Three common orthodontic appliances are palatal expanders, space maintainers and braces.
Palatal expander - Expands a child’s upper dental arch to create more room for teeth to grow into, which is used to reduce crowding.
Space maintainer - Maintains the space for permanent teeth to grow in correct positions, if a baby tooth is lost too early.
Braces - There are a number of reasons why a child may require braces and the most likely reason is that they suffer from crowded teeth or a malocclusion.
Our professional team at Ocean Orthodontics believes early intervention allows for more effective and successful treatment, leading to a more beautiful and confident smile. Our practice on the Sunshine Coast offers a friendly and relaxed environment where both children and adults can feel welcome and undergo excellent treatments.
If your child shows indication or suffers from an orthodontic issue, then please contact our team for more information or to book in an appointment by clicking here.
By visiting the orthodontist early, you can prevent problems from occurring or worsening inside your child’s mouth.
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