Braces for children

At Scott Smith Orthodontics, we have worked hard to create a family friendly environment where everyone feels welcome - and that includes children. It is incredibly important for children to meet with an orthodontist at a young age so we can identify any potential problems they may have with their teeth later on. 

Early orthodontic assessment

The Australian Society of Orthodontists recommends children have an orthodontic assessment around the age of seven. At this age, most children have a mix of baby and adult teeth. Our specialist orthodontist, Dr Smith, can identify any subtle problems with jaw growth and emerging teeth that may be developing. 

At this age, your child may not need any orthodontic treatment, but by having an assessment, we can determine whether they may need some in the future and help you to plan accordingly. 

What to look for

At your child's early orthodontic assessment, Dr Smith will be looking for signs of malocclusions, or in other words, signs that indicate your child has a bad bite. 

Malocclusions occur due to the misalignment of teeth or jaws. A bad or irregular bite could be in the form of a cross bite or an overbite, when your child's teeth don't meet as they should. Malocclusions may also be seen as crooked, crowded or protruding teeth and could affect your child's smile, appearance, speech and their ability to chew. 

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  

Benefits of seeing an orthodontist

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. 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  

At Scott Smith Orthodontics, we strongly recommended all children have an orthodontic screening by the age of eight. Book your child in for a consultation with our team today.