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Importance of early orthodontics

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.

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What indicates my child requires early intervention?

The following characteristics may indicate that your child requires orthodontic attention, including:

• Early or late loss of baby teeth
• Mouth breathing
• Speech impediment
• Biting or chewing problems
• Teeth do not meet together properly
• Protruding front teeth
• Crowded teeth
• Shifting jaw
• Child sucks thumb and is older than five

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These issues should be addressed by an orthodontist as early as possible to receive the most effective treatment and reduce chances of later complications.

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The benefits of early orthodontic treatment

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:

• Reduced treatment later - Fixing an issue while the child’s mouth is still growing is easier and can mean later treatment is much shorter or may be avoided. Not only will it save time, it may also save money.
• Correcting bite problems - If your child has a malocclusion (misaligned teeth), then early intervention by an orthodontist will be able to help fix the issue while their jawbone is still growing.
• Reduce speech issues - Fixing bite issues can improve a child’s speech as misaligned teeth may lead to speech impediments. Fixing bite problems can help boost your child’s confidence to speak with others.
• Preventing crooked permanent teeth - If your child loses baby teeth too early, surrounding teeth can shift and increase the chances of permanent teeth erupting in crooked positions.

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Common early treatment

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.

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Your child’s first orthodontic appointment at Ocean Orthodontics

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.