Preventive Orthodontics

When Should You Consider Preventive Orthodontics?

When it comes to preventive orthodontics, most parents and carers don’t realise the ideal age to bring a child in for their first orthodontic consultation is between seven and eight years of age.

Here are just a few very good reasons why:

It can guide permanent teeth into their proper position to avoid more complex orthodontic issues from developing
Preventive orthodontics is perfect for helping your child avoid self-esteem issues or being made fun of by peers
Prevent more complex orthodontic issues from developing
Your child’s natural jaw growth and development can be utilised to achieve the most ideal outcome
Preventive orthodontics protects protruding front teeth from the risk of trauma
It can reduce second phase treatment complexity and time and therefore save you money
Your child can experience improved oral hygiene and habits that can contribute to an orthodontic condition.

An early childhood assessment is sound preventive orthodontics. It’s about understanding what you’re working with and planning for the future. It gives you the knowledge so you can make the most ideal orthodontic choices at the right time for your child. This in turn improves their health, confidence, physical appearance and profile; all factors which are important as your child grows.

Time for an early childhood orthodontic assessment? Let’s book your child in.

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What is preventive orthodontics?

Preventive orthodontics means getting in ahead of any orthodontic issues emerging in children or teens.

While some parents question the value of consulting with an orthodontist when their child is only seven or eight, our view and that of the Australian, American and British Orthodontic Association is clear:

Prevention is a much better alternative to long term expensive treatment, making that early visit well worth the effort.

Numerous factors contribute to the onset of orthodontic problems – genetics, trauma, thumb finger sucking, poor nutrition, poor oral hygiene, and dental disease. Seeing an orthodontist around the age of seven or eight is an excellent way of reducing or the need for more complex and costly treatment down the track.

Ready to learn more?

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What happens at an early orthodontic assessment?

The early orthodontic assessment takes the form of an in-chair examination during which your orthodontist will look for bite related problems with your child’s jaw growth pattern. The orthodontist will take x-rays and produce images of your child’s mouth, as well as examine your child’s face. Remember, while an orthodontist is the best technical professional to undertake a qualified early orthodontic assessment of your child’s treatment needs, there are signs to look out for if you’re the parent of a young child, including:

Early, late or irregular loss of baby teeth
Teeth do not meet properly when biting
Mouth breathing and/or snoring
Crowded, misplaced or blocked out teeth
Protruding front teeth
Biting or chewing difficulties
Lip biting
Speech impediments
Jaws that shift, protrude, or are recessed
Thumb or finger sucking.

If you’re in any doubt about reading the signs, an early orthodontic assessment is worth the time and effort when you consider the peace of mind you gain by visiting an orthodontist at the right time. Ultimately, this will save you time, money, worry, and potentially make orthodontic treatment simpler and more affordable. Perhaps most importantly, it’s a vital first step on a life’s journey that helps your child have the best smile and most confidence.

Tween Boy smiling up about fixing his smile

Preventive Orthodontics FAQ

The good news is there is no referral needed to book your child in for an early orthodontic assessment. This consultation is a cost effective way to understand your child’s potential orthodontic treatment requirements. And the bonus? All monitoring and development checks after the initial appointment are free until treatment commences if it’s needed.

The first step is to equip yourself with the information you need and that is best sourced from a qualified orthodontist. While some clinicians dismiss the value of an early orthodontics assessment as a preventive approach, at Specialty Orthodontics, I’ve never met a parent who wished they’d delayed their initial consult. There’s nothing like peace of mind and your orthodontist can help you achieve that.

We get it. Kids can be fickle, that’s why at Specialty Orthodontics we keep our patients’ experience front of mind. We recommend parents come in for a visit to gain a sense of our approach and who we are as people. Dr Sarah is a mum and completely understands the challenges parents face, and has consequently set up Specialty Orthodontics to cater for kids. How will you know if Dr Sarah is right for you? Come in for a chat and let your feelings do the talking.

There’s no doubt that orthodontic treatment can be daunting for parents and children alike, however, we encourage parents, carers, kids, and teens to look at the experience as a journey. Believe it or not, you can have fun on the way. We even find that many of our patients end up enjoying their orthodontic experience, especially with our lovely, enthusiastic team cheering them along. You may be surprised to find your kids aren’t the only ones who grow. Mum and dad do too!

Specialty Orthodontics

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What our patients say

Can not recommend enough. My 11yr old daughter started with another orthodontist before we found Sarah and I’m so glad she was recommend to us. What a game changer! I can honestly say her team is outstanding. They all really made her feel so comfortable and confident about her orthodontic plan. Now she looks forward to her visits and as a mother, thats all I could wish for. Smooth sailing all the way.

Kylie White

What a great experience I had with Dr Dan and the Specialty Orthodontics team! I guess I was somewhat of a ‘mature age patient’, starting a round of braces at age 35. Dr Dan and her team explained everything about the treatment and answered any questions I had. The whole process took around 14 months which was quicker than expected. Dr Dan was receptive to my input with adjustments and polishing etc as we approached the end of my treatment – which I very much appreciated. Dr Dan’s oral health team also put in a significant amount of work throughout my treatment, they are all amazing at what they do. I had to bring my 6 month old son in a few times while I received adjustments and they were all very helpful, keeping him happy and smiling. Thanks to you all for helping out an old man, who now smiles a whole lot better!

Blake S

My 8 year old daughter attended Specialty Orthodontics yesterday for her very first appointment. From the moment we were greeted and during the appointment all the staff were lovely. My daughter was at complete ease during the whole process. I was very impressed. We look forward to continuing our orthodontic journey at Specialty Orthodontics.

Kylie Hutchings

A very welcoming and relaxed atmosphere to keep nervous children calm. The staff are very warm, friendly and engaging. I highly recommend this place. I just wish I could give 10 stars. Thank you for looking after my son so well. 🤗 …