Tooronga Family Dentistry in Glen Iris

Family dental care in Glen Iris

When to start correcting the position of the teeth?

Early Orthodontic Assessment for Children

Children and parents often visit Dr. Kaufman when the first permanent teeth erupt. The most common concern is that the new teeth appear twisted or crowded. This stage typically begins around age six, and it is recommended that every child see Dr. Kaufman by the age of seven for an early orthodontic evaluation.

The Importance of Monitoring the Transition from Baby Teeth to Permanent Teeth

The transition from baby teeth (primary teeth) to permanent teeth is a critical milestone in a child’s dental development. Careful monitoring during this stage ensures that teeth and jaws develop in proper balance.

Early assessment helps identify issues such as:

  • Missing permanent teeth

  • Crowding or spacing problems

  • Misaligned jaw growth or bite discrepancies

  • Uneven relationship between tooth and jaw size

These developmental discrepancies can affect long-term oral health, occlusion, and facial growth. The good news is that they can be diagnosed early and managed with a personalised treatment plan to guide proper development.

Benefits of Early Orthodontic Treatment

An early start provides many advantages, allowing Dr. Kaufman to:

  • Guide the eruption of permanent teeth into their correct position

  • Utilise natural growth of the face and jaws to improve alignment

  • Prevent more severe orthodontic issues in adolescence

  • Reduce or shorten the duration of future orthodontic treatment

Long-Term Goals

Our goal is to help children develop a healthy, confident smile that supports their overall growth and self-esteem. Early evaluation paves the way for easier orthodontic care later in life and leads to lasting, balanced dental health.

Book an early orthodontic consultation with Dr. Kaufman to assess your child’s dental development and create a tailored plan for a great smile and future confidence.

Anterior Crossbite & Abnormal Tooth Eruption – Early Treatment for Children in Glen Iris

A child as young as seven years old can have his or her first permanent incisors or molars grow in the wrong position. If left untreated, it can lead to a host of problems, may complicate future orthodontic treatment and may even require surgery to correct the malformation. On the other hand during a child’s growth we can influence the way the jaws develop and bring them into a correct relationship. A good example of an important malformation that requires immediate intervention is Anterior Crossbite as shown in the image here, where the lower jaw was pushed forwards by the way the front teeth meet.

Anterior crossbite is relatively a common presentation in the mixed dentition stage. It happens when the upper incisors develop behind the lower incisors. When the child is young, it is relatively easy to guide the erupting teeth to their correct position with a simple appliance. As shown in a completed treatment by Dr. Kaufman.

Don’t wait for the malformations to be more entrenched and difficult to treat. If you feel that your child’s teeth are starting to erupt in the wrong way or there are any missing teeth, please make an appointment to see Dr. Kaufman to have them checked.