What is an Orthodontist?

All orthodontists begin their careers as dentists before studying an extra three years to specialise in orthodontics. An orthodontist specialises in straightening teeth and aligning jaws. They are facial growth and dental development experts, trained in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of dental and facial irregularities. They are experts in all orthodontic care options such as braces, clear aligners and other orthodontic appliances that help treat poorly aligned jaws. Orthodontists are also able to assist with tooth movement caused by habits such as thumb sucking and even some forms of sleep apnoea. Referrals are not necessary, so if you are wondering what an orthodontist can do for you book an appointment with us!

When should I see an Orthodontist?

When it comes to orthodontic treatment every child can benefit from early orthodontic evaluation. Some (but not all) orthodontic problems can be corrected when treated in young growing jaws and waiting for teenage years can cause worsening of these early problems. If you are unsure, there are tell-tale signs which could suggest that your child could benefit from a visit to the orthodontist.

Things you should look out for:

Losing baby teeth prematurely due to decay or trauma
Snoring or breathing through the mouth
Teeth that don’t meet properly when biting together
Protruding or crowded teeth
Misplaced teeth
Difficulties in biting or chewing
Thumb sucking
Family history of impacted or missing teeth

If your child has the following signs, we recommend taking your child for their first orthodontic evaluation when they are between 7-10 years old. This age is when children have a mixed dentition of adult and baby teeth which will help the orthodontist determine if there are dental development problems that need to be intervened. These issues could be misalignment of the jaws, crowding or over/under bites.

Additional Resources:

What does an orthodontist do – Orthodontics Australia