Orthodontics for Kids Melbourne

Early Orthodontic Treatment can have numerous benefits for your child, such as:

• Fixing jaw position
• Fixing dental arch
• Creating space for erupting teeth
• Guiding jaw bone growth to guide facial symmetry
• Correcting improper development caused by bad habits like thumb sucking, pacifier habits or mouth breathing
• Improving biting, chewing, and teeth function
• Enhancing self-esteem and appearance
• Decreasing need or complexity for future orthodontic treatments

Young children respond well to interceptive treatment. Their bones are still developing and can be easily guided towards the correct alignment, allowing procedures to work quickly and efficiently.

There are some signs that might suggest your child is a good candidate for interceptive treatment, such as:

• Poor oral habits, such as thumb sucking or mouth breathing
• Overcrowded teeth
• Underbites and overbites
• Crossbites or misaligned jaw
• Protruding teeth
• Missing teeth
• Impacted teeth

Identifying and treating these issues early is essential in preventing them from further developing and avoiding more costly and severe interventions in the future.

Only a licensed orthodontist can identify if your child requires interceptive orthodontics. Our highly trained orthodontists at Camberwell Orthodontic Group will let you know how to achieve the best outcome for your child and guide you through all potential options.

Palate Expanders

One of the most common problems treated in children with early orthodontic treatment is abnormal jaw formation.

A palate expander slowly expands your child’s upper jaw while it is growing  and increases space for adult teeth to grow. If your child has a narrow jaw, expansion can allow the upper teeth to align themselves.

Expanders are only effective in young children, as their bones are still growing. Late teens and adults may require surgery to expand their jaws as their bones are already fully developed.

We also use a Quad Helix, another type of fixed expander. This appliance is cemented to your child’s molars and utilises four springs to apply gentle pressure and expansion to the jaw.

This treatment takes, on average, only 3 -6 months to complete.

Space Maintainers

A space maintainer is a device used to preserve open space in your child’s mouth so their adult teeth have time to grow in.

This is a useful treatment method for children who have prematurely lost baby teeth. Stopping this gap from prematurely closing will prevent expensive future problems and treatment.

Functional Appliances

Functional appliances, such as the Twin Block and Herbst Appliance, are used to correct the growth of the jaw during periods of active growth. They are often used to treat malocclusions.

Early Orthodontic Treatment is the necessary foundation for a lifelong healthy, aesthetic and well-functioning mouth. Starting treatment while your child is still young and their bones are still developing allows for orthodontic issues to be fixed more quickly and future treatments to be less expensive and complex.

The cost of early orthodontic treatment varies depending on the length and treatment required for your child. For a personalised quote, contact us to book your first consultation.

We are committed to providing personalised care that we would want for our own family and friends. We understand that your child’s first appointment with an orthodontist might seem daunting or scary. We are experts at ensuring their experience is a positive one.

Your orthodontist will meet with you and your child personally and carefully review all X-Rays, scans and potential concerns. Thanks to our extended appointment time, our orthodontists have ample opportunity to answer all your child’s questions.