Children’s Orthodontics Empire Bay Dental
Generally speaking, orthodontic treatment starts between the ages of 8 to 12 years old, although it’s not uncommon for treatment to start slightly earlier or later.
So, what are some of the reasons your child may need braces? There are a number of factors, including your child’s oral and physical development.
Here are some signs that orthodontics might be an effective treatment for your child.
- Early, late, or irregular loss of baby teeth
- Difficulty in chewing or biting
- Mouth breathing
- Thumb or finger sucking
- Tongue thrusting
- Crowded, misplaced, or blocked-out teeth
- Jaws that shift, make sounds, protrude, or are misaligned
- Biting the cheek or roof of the mouth
- Teeth that meet abnormally or not at all
- Jaws and teeth that are out of proportion to the rest of the face
If you notice any of the signs above, please come and visit the caring and experienced team at Empire Bay Dental.
When to visit the dentist for an orthodontic assessment
While people of any age can benefit from braces, we recommend children visit a registered dentist for an assessment between the ages of 8-10 years old. This allows the dentist to evaluate your child’s teeth and determine if they may need early treatment. This can include adult teeth and treatment whilst the baby (deciduous) teeth are present. This is known as phase 1 or interceptive orthodontics.
Your dentist will recommend a screening x-ray called an orthopantomogram (OPG) to assess the developing dentition and this is recommended for every child by age 8. This x-ray screens for presence of the adult teeth and the way in which the adult teeth are developing in case intervention may be required. This is in addition to your dentist being able to screen your child’s jaws for any pathology that can’t’ be detected from routine x-rays in the dental surgery (usually checking for decay) or from a visual examination.
What to expect at the first orthodontic visit?
At Empire Bay Dental our caring and highly skilled team led by Dr Andrew Sproll can take care of your orthodontic needs all conveniently onsite in the practice.
Dr Andrew Sproll has a particular interest and extensive experience int the area of children’s dentistry & orthodontics.
View Dr Andrew Sprolls profile here.
Our Empire Bay Dental team is here to help ensure your littles one’s smiles are healthy and functional, please contact us today.