Children's Orthodontics
The Australian Society of Orthodontists recommends the best time for your child to be assessed by an orthodontist is around age 7. You do not need a referral to see an orthodontist, however your child’s dentist may provide a referral letter if there are specific concerns.
Early Treatment
An early assessment allows the orthodontist to evaluate problems and plan the best timing to commence treatment. If it is too early to start treatment, we will continue to review your child on a regular basis. These recall appointments are complimentary, but important to ensure the correct timing for orthodontic treatment.
Generally your child will start losing their baby teeth from around the age of 5 until about age 12. All children are different, however if your child is 7 years of age and you are worried about any of the following signs please contact our office for an appointment.
- Early or late loss of the baby teeth
- Difficulty with chewing and/or biting
- Thumb or finger sucking
- Protruding teeth
- Shifting of the jaw when your child bites
- Crowded front teeth
- Speech problems
If early treatment is recommended, Dr Barva or Dr Meade will discuss the diagnosis and treatment plan with you and your child in lay terms and answer all of your questions. We will also demonstrate the appliance/s to you and provide you with a written quote. The most common types of early treatment involve space maintainers, expansion plates and mini-braces.
