Early Orthodontic Treatment For Children In Cockburn & Success
At Gateway Dental Centre, we provide early detection of tooth alignment issues and quality dental treatment before the problem becomes more serious. Our friendly dentists will ensure your child has healthy teeth for a lifetime! We use state-of-the-art orthodontic technology to provide exceptional care to your children and make sure they have beautiful smiles.
Benefits of Children’s Orthodontics
Here are some of the potential benefits of children’s orthodontics:
1.) Decreases Tooth Decay
Early detection of dental health problems in a child’s mouth and appropriate treatment can prevent them from getting worse. It also decreases the risk of tooth decay.
2.) Helps With Speech Difficulty
You are more likely to help your child overcome speech difficulties if you correct malocclusion while they are still growing.
3.) Increased Confidence
Having straight teeth gives children and teenagers a sense of confidence.
4.) Improved Digestion
Your child’s digestion will improve since they can chew food better.
Common Dental Problems that
Children’s Orthodontics
Can Fix
- Uneven tooth alignments (malocclusion), such as overbites, underbites, and crossbites
- Teeth spacing issues, such as crowding and tooth gaps
- Irregular tooth eruptions
Frequently Asked Questions About
Children’s Orthodontics
What are the signs my child needs early orthodontic intervention?
Early orthodontic intervention can be beneficial if your child exhibits any of these symptoms:
- They have difficulty biting or chewing food because their teeth are crowded.
- Their teeth overlap when biting down on their jaws.
- Despite the absence of noticeable crowding in the mouth, there are speech impediments because of misalignment.
- There are differences in the direction in which their teeth are growing.
When should I take my child to visit a dentist for orthodontic treatment?
What should I expect during the orthodontic appointment?
To make your child feel more comfortable in the friendly environment of our dental practice, we will introduce you and your child to our dental team and give a tour of the dentist office. It is generally the goal of the first appointment to determine if treatment is necessary and, if it is, where to begin.
You will be led to a room where the dentist will conduct a comprehensive exam. There will be a comfortable dental chair for your child, and the dentist may use overhead lighting to examine and examine your child’s mouth. The dentist will use a small hand-held mirror to gently lift your child’s cheek away from their teeth for a clearer view of the backs of their upper teeth. Your child will be asked to bite down so that the orthodontist may assess the position of the upper and lower jaws and watch how the top and bottom teeth fit together. A friendly staff member may take notes on what the orthodontist discovers. To identify any internal issues with the jaw structure or teeth, we may also take digital scans or x-rays.
Then, the orthodontist will assess whether treatment is required and what type of therapy is appropriate. If your child requires a specific oral appliance, such as clear aligners or retainers, we will take an impression of their teeth. Before you leave our Cockburn dental clinic, we will go over the customised treatment plan with you and answer any questions you may have.
How long do orthodontic treatments usually take?
In orthodontics, incorrect alignment, or malocclusion, is treated with different techniques based on the patient’s unique dental structure. Orthodontic treatment such as clear aligners typically takes between 12-18 months to complete. In certain instances, orthodontic patients need to wait anywhere from 12 months to 3 years before their treatment takes effect.
What are the factors affecting how long orthodontic treatment takes?
Every mouth is different. As a result, it’s critical to examine each case separately and assess its complexity in order to determine the amount of time required for therapy and get the best results. The following are the factors that affect the overall length of orthodontic treatment:
- Age: Age is an essential factor in how long orthodontic treatment will last. In children, their teeth are more susceptible to movement, so correcting malocclusion is easier since their bones are not fully developed. That’s why it’s sometimes easier to fix a child’s bite than an adult’s. Naturally, it will take longer to treat the case if it is more complicated.
- Cooperation from the patient: However, there is a benefit to utilising clear aligners as an adult: the patient’s level of compliance is optimal for the treatment’s effectiveness. Your dentist will always give you specific instructions on how to keep your treatment going in between regular appointments. This can include things like how to properly care for your teeth, when to schedule dental appointments, and how to use any functional appliances. Patients who follow these instructions to the letter will likely get faster outcomes and a shorter treatment time.
- The complexity of the case: Correction of crowded or crooked teeth requires less time than correction of an overbite or underbite, or more severe jaw alignment problems. Your treatment duration will be shorter if your current state requires minor modification. Mild tooth spacing can be corrected in a year or less, but extreme spacing might take much longer and necessitate additional visits to check and correct. If your therapy necessitates in-office maintenance and regular visits, your treatment period may take longer, mainly if there is damage to teeth.
- Type of orthodontic treatment: The speed of treatment also depends on the type of braces or aligners you receive. The clear aligner method is faster, which is possible due to advancements in dental technology, allowing treatment to be much more efficient than traditional options.
