Early Orthodontic Treatment Can Guide Healthy Growth.

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Young girl smiling at the dentist chair, wearing an orange protective apron and having a dental checkup.

Examples of Early Orthodontic Treatments

  • Space maintainers help guide proper tooth eruption following the early loss of baby teeth. Our space maintainers are designed as a ‘custom fit’ appliance to ensure maximal comfort as we await the eruption of the adult tooth.

  • Expanders are used to widen a narrow upper jaw. In effect, they are used to correct posterior cross-bites and deviation of the lower jaw. They are also used in combination with other treatment methods in the management of obstructive sleep apnoea in children.

  • Functional appliances are used to redirect growth of the lower jaw. In effect, they assist in improving the profile, correcting protruded front teeth and reducing the risk of trauma.

  • Plates are used for a whole variety of reasons- some of them being to correct a deep bite, to correct a cross-bite, to move select teeth, and to hold space in the arch form. Plates at ACT Ortho are custom-made and our young patients enjoy choosing their plate in their favourite colour.

  • Thumb guards are very discreet appliances that are custom fit at our practice. They are very effective in cessation of thumb sucking when other behavioural methods have been unsuccessful.

  • Partial braces are used to achieve alignment of teeth, in particular the front teeth in young children. Most of our young patients like to decorate them with a whole range of different colours!

A young girl with light brown hair tied in pigtails, smiling and showing teeth, with a hand near her mouth, wearing a black and purple patterned top.

When should your child have an orthodontic assessment?

From as early as 7-8 years old, we recommend an orthodontic assessment of your child’s bite. Catching problems early can help simplify, and sometimes eliminate the need for treatment later on.

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Free recall program

Although we like to treat orthodontic problems early, it is important to understand that certain conditions, even if detected at a young age, are still best left untreated until your child grows older. If this is the case, our Orthodontists will continue to monitor your child free of charge until they are at an appropriate age for orthodontic treatment. 

Some Frequently Asked Questions About Early Orthodontic Treatment

  • This is an understandable concern amongst parents/guardians. Please rest assured that most of our young patients cope very well with the appliances issued. We like to keep orthodontic treatment short at this age and only treat specific orthodontic problems that will benefit from early correction.

  • The aim of early orthodontic treatment is to prevent orthodontic problems from worsening and requiring more complex treatment later. Although some of our young patients avoid later treatment, the majority still require some form of orthodontic treatment at a later stage to achieve the optimal result. However, this later treatment is most often less lengthy and invasive than if no early treatment was undertaken.

  • Early orthodontic treatment is not suitable for all children. There are specific stages of growth that are suited for the correction of certain bites and tooth alignment problems. If your orthodontist is monitoring your child’s teeth, they are keeping the ideal timing in mind, and are waiting to intervene at the time that will give your child the best outcome within the shortest treatment duration.

  • There is some evidence that widening the upper jaw can improve children’s breathing through widening the floor of the nose. Please note, however, a ‘cure’ of obstructive sleep apnoea or snoring is by no means guaranteed. If you are concerned about your child’s breathing, a referral from a GP to a qualified ENT surgeon is recommended.

  • There are some children who are just ‘late bloomers’. Although there are common ages when baby teeth are lost and adult teeth erupt, these ages should be used as a guide. If you have a concern, it is recommended you book an appointment with our orthodontist Dr McConnell and she can address your concerns. There are some instances that require early intervention, and other instances that simply require monitoring.

  • The cost of early orthodontic treatment varies according to what orthodontic appliance is recommended. As a general guide, the cost of early orthodontic treatment is significantly less than comprehensive orthodontic treatment. This is because treatment is generally shorter as only specific orthodontic problems are corrected.

  • The duration of early orthodontic treatment varies according to what requires correction. As a general guide, treatment lasts on average 6-12 months, after which there will be a period of retention and recall visits until the adult teeth have erupted.

  • Many parents don’t realise that gaps between baby teeth is actually what orthodontists like to see! If your child does not have gaps between their baby teeth, it is often an indication they will have crowded adult teeth. Remember, adult teeth are much bigger than baby teeth!

  • This is a justified question- after all, it makes sense that if a child grows taller their mouth grows bigger too! However, this is not necessarily the case. Did you know that the upper jaw stops growing around age 10, and our width of our arches actually get narrower with age! This means, if we see crowding early on in a child, they are very unlikely to ‘grow out of’ crowding as they age. In fact, the crowding is likely to worsen!