Early Intervention Orthodontics For Young Children
What Is Orthodontics?
Orthodontics relates to the diagnosis, prevention, management, correction of malpositioned teeth and jaw as well as misaligned bite patterns.
The first step in this journey is an examination with your dentist. He/she will examine your teeth, bite, jaw joints and jaw muscles of your mouth. You may be photographed from the front and side (bite and occlusion), as well as your teeth and face. Then your teeth and gums may be evaluated with x-rays. The dentist will investigate all of these factors in order to determine if orthodontic treatment is needed and what kind of treatment is best for you. Today, we have a range of treatment options available to ensure the best outcome.
There are a variety of orthodontic appliances, other than braces, that are used to modify and align the bite. Our dentist will determine whether we are able to offer you treatment or whether you are best referred to an orthodontist. Treatment options that are used include braces, aligners (clear plastics e.g. Invisalign), plates and expanders.
Treatment of Orthodontic Issues in Children
- Because children's teeth and jaws are very soft, therefore growth modification tends to be easier and more stable at this age group.
- Children has a lot of growth potential and therefore this can be harvested to allow for better alignment and facial development.
The Benefits of Orthodontics For Children
Starting this monitoring process early allows us to assess how your children’s teeth are forming and make early decisions on things like expansion, habit correction or plates. We also start having conversations around future treatment, thereby making it less scary.
Visiting our clinic for a professional assessments is all about monitoring your child’s facial development and dental growth. By getting to understand your child’s dental development early it is possible to intervene early and treat a range of issues like:
- Tooth overcrowding
- Crossbites
- Overbites and underbites and more.