Treatment options for children
While there is no exact age for children to begin orthodontic treatment, the American Association of Orthodontists and the Australian Society of Orthodontists recommends visiting your orthodontist between the ages of seven and nine.
By this age, most children have a mix of baby teeth and adult teeth, making it easier for the orthodontist to diagnose and correct tooth and jaw problems sooner and without surgery.
Early treatment allows your orthodontist to:
- Correct and guide the growth of your child’s jaw to help the permanent teeth come in straight
- Regulate the width of the upper and lower arches
- Create more space for crowded teeth
- Avoid the need for permanent tooth extractions later in life
- Correct thumb-sucking and help improve minor speech problems
- Address mouth breathing issues to promote more favourable jaw development
Signs that may mean your child needs to see an orthodontist:
- Early or late loss of baby teeth
- A hard time chewing or biting food
- Mouth breathing
- Finger or thumb sucking
- Crowded, misplaced, or blocked teeth
- Jaws that pop or make sounds when opening and closing
- Teeth that come together abnormally, or do not come together at all
- Jaws and teeth that are not proportionate to the rest of the face
- Crowded front teeth around age seven or eight
Treatment options
Our practice offers a variety of braces, types and styles, to choose from. Some common options include:
Ceramic braces
Ceramic braces are made of clear materials and are therefore less visible on your teeth than metal braces. For this reason, ceramic braces are used mainly on older teenagers and adult patients who have cosmetic concerns.
Invisible | Invisalign Teen
Invisalign® uses a series of invisible, removable, and comfortable aligners to straighten your teeth. No one can tell you are wearing Invisalign because it’s invisible! Not only are the aligners invisible, they are removable, so you can eat and drink what you want while in treatment, plus brush and floss with less of a hassle.
Lingual braces | Suresmile
Lingual braces are hidden behind the teeth and are therefore “invisible” when you smile. Lingual braces are 100% customised to match the shape of your teeth and the metal appliances are created uniquely for you.
Traditional metal braces
Traditional metal braces are the most common type of braces and are more comfortable today than ever before. Made of high-grade stainless steel, metal braces straighten your teeth using metal brackets and archwires.