Importance of early orthodontic intervention
Early orthodontic intervention is about more than improving your child’s confidence in photos and social situations – it can actually protect their health. On top of that, early intervention can reduce the length and cost of orthodontic treatment in your child’s teenage years.
Why is early orthodontic intervention important?
The sooner we can catch and correct orthodontic issues, the better. When patients come to Orthosmile around the age of 7 or 8, we can guide their jaw development and ensure that their teeth form properly.
By catching orthodontic problems early, we can prevent them from worsening and greatly reduce the length of treatment later on – or prevent the need for treatment in your child’s teenage years altogether!
Signs your child could benefit from an early assessment
Not all signs of orthodontic need are obvious, which is why an assessment with a Specialist Orthodontist is so important. That being said, there are some signs you should look out for. Early assessment can help correct or manage any of the following:
- Thumb or finger sucking which can cause significant problems with the position of the teeth and jaws (or encourage mouth breathing)
- Crowding where there is not enough space in the jaws to accommodate all the teeth
- Crossbites that can cause displacement of the jaw and long-term effects on the jaw joint
- Early or late loss of teeth, or teeth missing altogether
- Hypoplastic teeth where the tooth enamel is deficient in amount
- Submerged teeth
- Extra teeth
- Protruding teeth which can increase the chance of dental trauma or sports injury by 30%
See if orthodontics could help your child
Book a consultation with our experienced Specialist Orthodontists to see if your child’s smile could benefit from the gentle guidance of orthodontic treatment.
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