The misconception of orthodontics: “wait until a child is a teenager to start treatment”… this can mean waiting until a problem gets bigger, becomes harder to fix and so can become costlier!
“Prevention is better than cure” – This is why seeing the orthodontist for children in this age group is a great idea! Many issues can arise when teeth are forming and coming through into the mouth during these early years.
If seen early, an orthodontist can sometimes intercept certain teeth and bite problems, and stop them from causing issues in the bite and teeth alignment later on – possibly avoiding extractions as well as the cost and time of braces later.
World-leading associations e.g. American Association of Orthodontics, European Society of Orthodontists and Australian Society of Orthodontists, recommend that all children around the age of 7-8 years be seen by a specialist orthodontist.
When to consider treatment
- A thumb-sucking habit past the age of 6 years
- Snores and/or grinds their teeth
- Bites their finger nails or pencil-biting
- Mouth-breathing
- “Buck” teeth and/or teeth that stick out
- Deep bites
- Open bites
- Crowding or space loss
- Abnormal eruption of teeth
- Underbite
Some of these problems can have significant consequences, so, if you notice any of the above or suspect a problem, please bring your child into our practice early for a consultation with one of our specialist orthodontists.