Tooronga Family Dentistry in Glen Iris

Family dental care in Glen Iris

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When is the best time to start orthodontic treatment?

It’s a good idea to get an orthodontic evaluation by the time a child is 7 years old. Dr. Kaufman is a dentist with additional training, in aligning and straightening teeth. In his orthodontic evaluation Dr. Kaufman will examine the position of the upper and lower jaws, the way the teeth function and if there are any abnormalities. An early orthodontic assessment doesn’t mean your child will get braces right away. It just means that Dr. Kaufman will be able to find problems and decide the best time to start treatment. Since the best time to start an orthodontic treatment depends on the severity and the cause of the misalignment of your child’s teeth. In general there are three developmental stages orthodontic treatment can be started at:

Early Treatment or orthopaedic treatment:Open bite

Early interceptive treatment, referred to as Phase 1, is performed before all of the permanent teeth have erupted—often between the ages of 7 and 10. The main advantage of the early treatment is the opportunity to guide the development of the jaws as your child is growing. If this opportunity is missed, the only way to make these changes later on are with orthognathic surgery. Many times the early assessment can detect problems that happen after losing baby teeth too soon, accidents, or habits like thumb sucking. The early detection call allow for an interceptive treatment that will prevent the transition of the malocclusion to the permanent dentition.

Orthodontic treatment for Teens:

Adolescents typically start full orthodontic treatment between the ages of 12 and 16 once most of their permanent teeth have erupted. This treatment is referred to, as Phase 2 if they received early treatment. During the phase 2 treatment all the permanent teeth will be brought into the correct position to maximize their appearance and function.

Adult Treatment:

Orthodontic treatment can be done during adulthood. It can help solve problems that relate to crowding and difficulty to maintain good oral hygiene, it can dramatically improve your personal appearance and confidence. For adults there are several treatment options including discrete treatment with aligners, treatment with traditional braces or a combination of the two.

If  you have some questions and concerns about braces, clear aligners or orthodontic treatment please don’t hesitate to contact us.