Children’s Orthodontics Warragul Victoria

Early intervention helps to decrease the chances of tooth misalignment and poor oral health as your child enters their teen years.

What is early orthodontic treatment?

Early intervention, also known as interceptive treatment, refers to orthodontic treatment that is done prior to common orthodontic treatments, like braces. This often happens when some baby teeth are still present.

During the initial assessment, we will look for any abnormalities that require orthodontic care. Outcomes from an early orthodontic evaluation will indicate that:

• No treatment is required
• Future treatment is required
• Early treatment is required

Early interceptive treatment is carried out when the abnormality intensifies, as it should be treated by a specialist orthodontist as soon as possible.

When is the best age to start orthodontic treatment?

Bringing children along for an early orthodontic assessment between the ages of seven and nine years old can help to detect any orthodontic issues early, and help safeguard their oral health for the future.

What are the benefits of early orthodontics?

The benefit of early intervention is that it allows us to identify any abnormalities in your child’s mouth as soon as possible; which allows us to intercept and treat the problem sooner. If left untreated, the end results may not be as desirable.

Getting early treatment will prevent an orthodontic issue from worsening, as we can start eliminating the cause, guiding growth of your child’s growing jaw bones to ensure there is enough space available for their incoming adult teeth.

It’s best to seek help earlier, as a growing jaw is soft and easier to manipulate into the correct position than a fully grown one, which may prevent the need for further orthodontic treatment later on, and aligned teeth.

Is early intervention necessary?

No, but it is very important if you would like to pave the way for your child’s healthy oral future.

In some cases, without early intervention, a problem with your child’s teeth can worsen into a huge orthodontic issue as they grow up into a teen or adult. So, it’s best to bring your child along for a consultation.

How do I know if my child needs early orthodontic treatment?

There are several signs that indicate whether or not it’s crucial that you take your child to the orthodontist for an assessment as soon as possible.

This includes the following cases:

• Loss of baby teeth before five years of age.
• Bite issue (open bite, crossbite, underbite or overbite)
• Excessive spacing
• Crowded teeth
• Protruding front teeth (overjet)
• Mouth breathing
• Snoring issues
• Suffers from a speech impediment
• Biting, chewing and eating difficulties
• Your child’s jaw is shifting while they open and close their mouth
• Your child still sucks their thumb after five years of age

When will my child need braces?

Usually, your child will not need to have braces until they are between 10 to 15 years old. This is because we will have to wait until their permanent teeth have completely come through.

Braces in Warragul

At HiTech Ortho, our team believes you should bring your child along for a check-up at around seven years old to help safeguard their healthy future smile.

Even if you suspect your child does not suffer from any oral or facial abnormalities, it’s important to still bring them as not all orthodontic problems are visible in the early stages; which is why an orthodontist is needed to identify any issues.

If you would like to book your child in for an early orthodontic appointment, please click here.