A question we often hear from parents at Portside Dental is: "When should my child see an orthodontist in Newport, VIC?" The answer is around 7 to 8 years old. While this might seem early for braces, we recommend early evaluations because some children benefit from early intervention orthodontics in Newport, VIC. Here's what parents should know.
What Is Early Intervention Orthodontics?
When baby teeth are crowded, it can indicate that there may not be enough space for future incoming adult teeth. A child is living with a severe overbite or underbite that makes chewing food difficult. These are a couple of reasons our dentists may recommend early orthodontic treatment.
By using appliances like expanders, braces, and space maintainers, we can use your child's growth patterns to help correct bite concerns and tooth spacing concerns early on, which often makes future orthodontic alignment more straightforward.
What Are the Benefits of Early Orthodontic Treatment for Kids?
Not every child needs early intervention, but those who do enjoy significant benefits from early treatment. If your child is not a candidate for early intervention, we'll reevaluate their orthodontic needs around age 12, when they may benefit from wearing braces for tooth and bite alignment.
For those children who do require early orthodontic treatment, here are some of the benefits of it:
- Guides jaw development — Correcting and aligning bites can help improve chewing function and corrects severe overbites or underbites.
- Improves speech — Correcting tooth and bite alignment can help with speech concerns.
- Creates space for adult teeth — When we make space with expansion, adult teeth have a better chance of coming in without crowding and in alignment.
- Simplifies phase two — Most kids who have early intervention will enjoy a more straightforward phase two with braces to focus on tooth alignment.
- Reduce risk of trauma — When an upper or lower jaw protrudes forward, it can put teeth at risk for damage.
Looking for a Dental Clinic in Newport, VIC, for Orthodontics?
We invite you to contact Portside Dental on (03) 8820 1915 to learn more about how we can help.
