A parents’ guide on orthodontic treatment for children under 11.
In orthodontics, treatment is divided into two primary categories, ‘Early Intervention’ for children under the age of 11, and ‘Standard Orthodontics’ for patients aged 12+. If your child is a teenager, or they have all of their adult teeth, please refer to our Braces or Clear Aligner pages for treatment recommendations. If your child is under 11 years old, early orthodontic treatment may be recommended by Dr Theresia.
Early Intervention can be advantageous in certain situations, as it can help to simplify or prevent orthodontic treatment in the future. In addition, it can also address a problem which is causing damage to current teeth and their supporting structures, or is affecting normal growth and development.
It is recommended that children are brought to see an orthodontist around the ages of approximately seven to ten. This will enable the orthodontist to assess your child’s mouth and determine whether early treatment is necessary, just as they may do in an adult consultation. Early treatment can be a highly effective interceptive measure that establishes a functioning, healthy and beautiful mouth during adulthood.
To start, Dr Theresia will get to know you and your child. She will ask you some questions about your concerns, as well as a brief dental history of your child.
During the consultation, Dr Theresia will examine your child’s teeth, mouth, and jaw, to identify any orthodontic issues that need addressing now, or in the future.
If Dr Theresia recommends orthodontic treatment, our staff will start by taking some orthodontic records such as photos and X-rays, as well as explaining what to expect during treatment, and how long treatment may take.
Often, treatment is not required prior to 10 years of age. If this is the case, Dr Theresia will monitor your child at 6 or 12 month intervals to ensure treatment can start at the optimal time.
At South Yarra Orthodontics, we personalise treatment plans tailored to your child’s unique needs.
Dr. Theresia will conduct a thorough examination, including digital scans and x-rays, to determine the best approach for aligning your child’s teeth and promoting healthy jaw growth.
Our focus is to ensure a comfortable experience, effective results, and a beautiful, confident smile that lasts a lifetime.
Early treatment can be as simple as monitoring the growth, the development of the jaws and dentition.
It can also involve timely extractions of deciduous teeth, the placement of a few braces, the use of space holding, functional or passive appliances, or the use of a growth modifying appliance.
All of these may assist with tooth eruption, guiding facial growth and preventing future problems from developing.
The placement of braces on a particular section of the upper or lower teeth may be necessary to correct poorly aligned or incorrectly positioned teeth.
Examples of situations where partial braces can be beneficial include the correction of impacted first molar teeth, uprighting tilted permanent teeth, recreation of lost arch length, correction of a crossbite or improvement of significantly proclined upper front teeth.
The early correction of certain problems can reduce the length of time of future orthodontic treatment, negate the need for extractions of permanent teeth or even prevent the need for full braces later.
A maxillary expander is commonly needed to treat a narrow or small upper arch. The upper arch is best expanded when growth is still occurring.
There are three main types of maxillary expanders:
Lingual arches are passive holding arches which are cemented to the permanent first molars to prevent them from moving forward.
Lingual arches can be used as a space maintainer in cases where baby teeth have needed to be removed early, or as a way to relieve crowding in the dental arch.
A Herbst appliance is generally used to correct overbites by encouraging the lower jaw to grow forward while limiting the growth of the upper jaw. It uses metal rods to gently guide the jaws into better alignment over time
Typically worn by growing children and teens for 12-15 months, the appliance works continuously to create a balanced bite and a healthier smile.
Invisalign First aligners are specially designed to address the unique orthodontic needs of growing children. These innovative aligners gently guide teeth into their correct positions, making early treatment effective and comfortable. With Invisalign First, children can enjoy a more confident smile without the discomfort and inconvenience of traditional braces. The aligners are virtually invisible, removable, and customised to fit your child’s mouth, ensuring a seamless integration into their daily routine while promoting optimal dental health. Give your child the advantage of a beautiful, healthy smile with Invisalign First.
Headgear is a functional appliance which is commonly used in the mixed dentition (baby and permanent teeth still present) and skeletal growth is still occurring. Headgear is only worn at home, usually during sleeping. The best results are achieved when headgear is worn for 10-12 hours per day.
Two main types of headgear are:
No, you don’t need a referral from a dentist or doctor before visiting South Yarra Orthodontics. However, your dentist may refer you to us, if they believe you require orthodontic treatment.
If you notice that your child has significant gaps in their teeth, or misaligned teeth, your child may require orthodontic treatment. Also, if your child has breathing issues, or is missing teeth it is also recommended that you book in to see an orthodontist.
Having an early assessment and creating a long-term plan for the young orthodontic patient is essential because it allows for early detection and correction of any orthodontic problems.
Early intervention can prevent more severe orthodontic issues from developing and can often result in shorter treatment times and better treatment outcomes.
Additionally, a long-term plan allows for proper sequencing of treatments, which can help ensure that each treatment is completed at the appropriate time and in the correct order, leading to a successful and efficient treatment outcome.
When assessing a young patient, our orthodontists will typically look for several things, including:
There are countless benefits of early orthodontic treatment. However, the most well known benefits are that it reduces the likelihood of your child requiring complex and costly orthodontic treatment in the future.
No, your child doesn’t require a dentist referral. However, your general dentist may recommend visiting South Yarra Orthodontics if they notice any potential orthodontic issues during a checkup.
