Children

What age should my child see an orthodontist?

The Australian Society of Orthodontists (ASO) and the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) both recommend an orthodontic assessment be conducted for a child by no later than 7 years of age.

By the age of 7, the first adult molars have usually erupted, establishing the posterior relationships of your child’s teeth or “bite”. During this time we can evaluate front-to-back and side-to-side tooth relationships. For example, the presence of erupting incisors may indicate a possible overbite, openbite or crowding.

What will treatment involve?

Treatment in younger children is commonly referred to as Phase 1 treatment and is undertaken prior to full braces.

Treatment may range from regular supervision and guidance through to the use of fixed and removable appliances. These appliances may apply direct force to the teeth and the cranio-facial structure, or stimulate and redirect naturally occurring functional forces. Each appliance is differebt and its purpose will depend on your child’s unique circumstances. More >

Benefits of Phase 1 treatment

Early evaluation of your child’s teeth and jaws facilitates the timely detection of problems and provides greater opportunity for more effective orthodontic treatment. Prudent intervention allows us to guide your child’s growth and development and may prevent more serious orthodontic problems developing.

Key benefits of interceptive treatment for children can include:

• Enhancing facial symmetry by influencing jaw growth
• Creating room for crowded, erupting teeth
• Reducing the risk of trauma to protruding front teeth
• Preserving space for unerupted teeth
• Reducing the need for tooth extractions
• Reducing treatment time in braces

If early orthodontic intervention is not necessary, we can carefully monitor your child’s growth and development and start orthodontic treatment at the optimal time.

Creating a positive oral health partnership

We focus on developing a fun and positive relationship with our youngest patients.

Children experience significant growth and development between 7 and 10 years of age, losing their baby teeth and gradually transitioning to their permanent or adult teeth. During the course of our supervision program, we can help your child develop good oral hygiene habits and understand the importance of looking after their teeth and smile.

If your child is around 7 years of age, please contact us to schedule a specialist consultation appointment with Dr Siva.

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