Kids Under 10

Our compassionate Parramatta Orthodontic and Canterbury Orthodontic team is dedicated to providing a supportive environment every step of your child’s orthodontic journey.

Trust us to guide you with care and expertise, working together to achieve a healthy and beautiful smile for your child.

Give Your Child’s Smile a Head Start

You may hesitate to consider orthodontic treatment for your children, fearing it might be premature. However, the Australian Society of Orthodontists strongly advises scheduling the first orthodontic consultation for children as early as 7 years old. This proactive approach allows our experienced orthodontists to detect and address any potential issues at an early stage, preventing more significant problems in the future. By giving your child’s smile a head start, you can pave the way for a confident and healthy smile in the long run.

Little Signs Could Mean Bigger Issues

During your child’s growth phase, there is a special opportunity to intervene and ensure your child receives the necessary care for a future radiant smile. Here are some signs we look for which may suggest the need for orthodontic intervention:

A narrow, pointy jaw.
Premature or delayed shedding of primary (baby) teeth.
Protruding teeth, commonly referred to as "bucky teeth".
Teeth positioned higher up in the gums, resembling fangs.
Overcrowded primary teeth, causing them to be misaligned or crooked (i.e. “shark teeth”).
Consistent finger sucking habit, potentially impacting the alignment and positioning of the teeth.

Child Orthodontics v Teenager Orthodontics – What’s the Difference?

Child orthodontics (phase 1) primarily centres around your child’s jaw bones, while teenager orthodontics (phase 2) aims to straighten their adult teeth.

Child orthodontics directs attention to the jaws since they serve as the foundation for future adult teeth and play a crucial role in defining your child’s facial shape.

By initiating treatment before their teenage years, we can help the possibility of your child’s jaws having sufficient width to accommodate their future adult teeth. This can create space, reducing crowding of the teeth as they grow. Additionally, we strive to achieve a balanced facial profile for your child by positioning the jaws optimally—neither too far forward nor too far back.

Our goal is to provide your child with a facial balance that suits them as an individual.

Orthodontic Appliances for Young Smiles

After a thorough consultation with one of our Specialist Orthodontists, the following appliances may be recommended:

Palatal Expander Plates:

Palatal expanders widen the upper jaw, creating more space for crowded teeth. They can correct crossbites, improve breathing, airway function, and promote proper facial development.

Space Maintainers:

Space maintainers hold space in the mouth for permanent teeth that have not erupted yet. They prevent adjacent teeth from shifting into the empty space, helping proper alignment of permanent teeth.

Functional Appliances:

Functional appliances (e.g. Twin Block, Herbst Appliance) correct jaw discrepancies and promote proper jaw growth. They can improve facial aesthetics, correct bite issues, and improve overall function, including speech and chewing.

Headgear:

A Headgear forces teeth and jaws to correct severe bite problems and jaw discrepancies. It can guide jaw growth, improve facial balance, and correct overbites or underbites.

Forsus Appliance:

The Forsus appliance is a spring-loaded rod that connects the upper and lower jaws, correcting bite problems such as overbites. It provides continuous gentle forces for gradual correction