Early treatment

The Australian Association of Orthodontics recommends that the initial orthodontic evaluation should occur at the first signs of orthodontics problems. To ensure this, it is recommended that children have their initial orthodontic consultation at the age of 7.

Why the age of 7?
This is because by this age, the first adult molars would have erupted to establish the bite. We would be able to establish the bite and any future potential crowding or spacing problems.
It is also the optimal time to evaluate skeletal development and to identify the position of the permanent teeth.

Every child’s needs are unique. For some children it is best to start treatment before all the permanent teeth have erupted and this is referred to as Phase I treatment, or interceptive treatment. For other children, it would make more sense to wait until all adult teeth have erupted.

It is important to monitor and commence treatment in a timely manner as it can improve stability, function and aesthetics of the results, while helping it to prevent problems in the future.

The benefits of early treatment are:

• Guides jaw growth and permanent teeth into more favourable positions
• Reduces the possible need of removing adult teeth to resolve crowding or bite problems.
• Lowers the risk of trauma to protruded front teeth
• May help correct detrimental habits
• Helps manage potential crowding/spacing issues
• Helps improve appearance & self esteem of a child
• Maintains space for un-erupted adult teeth
• The use of plates early that help change the skeletal jaw positions may reduce the need for surgery later on.