Orthodontists are trained to identify subtle problems with jaw growth and emerging teeth while some baby teeth are still present.

Orthodontics not only improves the aesthetics of the smile but improves bad bites (malocclusions).

Malocclusions occur due to the misalignment of teeth or jaws resulting in an irregular bite, cross bite, or overbite. Malocclusions may be seen as crooked, crowded or protruding teeth and may affect your smile, appearance, speech and your ability to chew.

The advantage of finding orthodontic problems early is that it is often easier to correct early than if they were left until later on in life.

What age should my child see an orthodontist?

By age 7, most children have a mix of baby and adult teeth. Early identification of potential orthodontic problems such as crowding of teeth, protruding teeth or too much space between teeth will enable Dr Smith to determine the best starting time for effective treatment.

For parents it is not always easy to tell if their child has an orthodontic problem. Some signs or habits that may indicate the need for an orthodontic examination are:

• Early or late loss of baby teeth
• Difficulty in chewing or biting
• Mouth breathing
• Thumb sucking
• Crooked teeth

What are the benefits of early orthodontic treatment?

For those patients who have clear indications for early orthodontic intervention, early treatment gives Dr Smith the chance to:

• Guide the growth of the jaw, creating facial symmetry
• Lower the risk of trauma to protruded front teeth
• Correct bad oral habits
• Create room to guide permanent teeth into a more favourable position
• Prevent more serious problems developing
• Reduce treatment time with braces

We strongly recommended that all children have an orthodontic screening by the age of 8.

Early Treatment – duration 6 months.

Early Treatment – duration 8 months.

Early Treatment – duration 10 months.

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