Align Me!
Align Me! Early Orthodontics
Early treatment is important for your child.
Crowded teeth, crooked teeth, and gaps can all be avoided with early orthodontic treatment. Our caring dentists will look after your child’s smile.
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Early Orthodontics
Early Orthodontics
Orthodontics is a branch of dentistry that diagnoses, prevents, and treats problems in the alignment of teeth and jaws.
Early orthodontics detects problems within a child’s developing mouth and has them treated before they magnify into more serious oral issues. It allows the healthy development of the children’s mouths and teeth. Bite problems can be treated faster at an early age as the bones are still developing and can be easily manipulated.
1. Tongue and Liptie Information for Children and Adults
When tongue and lip tie is not addressed during infancy, babies may adapt (for instance with a switch to bottle feeding or the use of a nipple shield) or compensate with overuse of other muscles and tongue ties remain hidden.
The oral dysfunction leads to poor resting posture, co-ordination and of the tongue, and may present as other functional concerns later in life.
Poor tongue tone and function ultimately plays out during sleep. When all the muscles are relaxed, the tongue is unable to properly perform one of its most important functions, to keep the upper airway or throat open.
Untreated tongue ties have now been linked to the development of mouth breathing, snoring and obstructive sleep apnoea in children and adults. These breathing difficulties lead to fragmented and unrestorative sleep, and in some cases oxygen deprivation. They have been linked to a whole host of physical, mental and emotional problems as well as increased risk of behavioural and learning difficulties in children.
What’s more, there may be overuse of the muscles of the neck or jaw to move the tongue. This may result in chronic neck tension, jaw pain or headaches.
2. Myofunctional Therapy
Myofunctional therapy is a non-invasive intervention that can help towards solving a wide range of problems relating to the improper patterns of the muscles of the mouth, throat, and face.
It is suitable for children from around the ages 4 and up, to adults.
Common concerns that patients present to us with, that we may offer myofunctional therapy as one piece of the puzzle to help resolve include:
- Mouth breathing
- Open mouth posture
- Snoring
- Obstructive sleep apnoea
- Tongue ties
- High arch palate
- Dental crowding and other orthodontic concerns
- Speech misarticulations
- Teeth grinding
- Allergies and nasal congestion
- Tongue thrusts
- Thumbsucking
- Behavioural problems in children
- Poor concentration and attention
- Chronic neck tension
- Headaches
3. Airway Screenings for Children
Mouth breathing and snoring in children are linked to unrestorative sleep, and increased risk of behavioural and learning problems down the track.
In 2017, the American Dental Association adopted a policy statement recognising the important role of dentists in screening for airway problems and developing an optimal airway and breathing pattern.
Our practitioners are well trained in screening for these issues and are involved in a collaborative team approach to restoring proper airway structure and function for children.
For optimal sleep, brain development and daytime function, breathing should be silent and through the nose, and a sleeping child should look still and restful.
- Do you have concerns about your child’s mouth breathing, snoring or sleep quality.
- Are they experiencing ongoing mouth breathing, teeth grinding or snoring after surgery to remove enlarged adenoids and tonsils?
- Do you have concerns about ADHD-like symptoms in your child?
Here are some symptoms that may warrant further investigation of underlying breathing or airway problems.
Night time Clues :
- Mouth breathing
- Snoring or audible breathing
- Gasping or pauses in breathing
- Neck hyperextension or stomach sleeping
- Tossing and turning
- Teeth grinding
- Bedwetting
- Sweating
- Frequent awakenings
- Nightmares and terrors
- Difficulties falling asleep
Day Time Clues :
- Feeling unrefreshed on waking
- Feeling unrefreshed on waking
- Tiredness or sleepiness during the day
- Hyperactivity
- Poor concentration or attention
- Behavioural concerns
- Prone to meltdowns or tantrums
- Defiance or aggressive behaviour
- Anxiety
- Difficulties with learning
- Poor school performance
- Difficulties chewing and swallowing
- Speech and language concerns
4. Palate expansion for children
Palate widening involves the use of removable orthodontic appliances to widen the upper jaw in children whilst they are growing.
This intervention may be of benefit in the following situations:
- Dental crowding or crossbites
- High narrow palate/narrow nasal passage
- Allergies and chronic nasal congestion
- Persistent snoring including after removal of adenoids and tonsils
- Speech concerns and constricted tongue space
- Restoring more tongue space prior to myofunctional therapy and/or tongue tie release
Treatment may be suitable for children ages from the age of 3 years with breathing, sleep, and speech concerns and more severe orthodontic problems.
A personalised treatment plan to address your child’s concerns may also involve complementary treatments including ENT referral, allergy management, myofunctional therapy, tongue tie release and physical therapy.
Contact us to book an appointment to evaluate your child’s suitability for palate expansion.
Call Us to Book a Complimentary Consultation Session for Your Child’s Orthodontic Needs
Early Detection and Treatment
with Orthodontic Appliances
Our dentists are highly trained and qualified in orthodontics. Practitioners at the Glenroy Dental Group are highly proficient at their work and are quick to notice and detect problems in the development of children’s mouths and jaws. Detecting these problems early helps in correcting the problems quickly, preventing lengthy treatment, and saving the children from potential complications or/and surgery in the future.
There are several safe-to-use orthodontic appliances for children that help in correcting their bite issues. After the consultation session, our dentist will recommend the best appliance that best suits your child’s condition.
Even if your child doesn’t require immediate treatment, our dentist will closely monitor and track the development of their mouth and ensure their jaw and teeth align correctly, so they don’t face problems in the future.
How Soon Can a Child Undergo
Orthodontic Treatment?
There is no set age for children to undergo orthodontic treatment. However, our dentists suggest that children should be assessed as early as possible, between the ages of 7 – 10, as this gives the child the best chance of diagnosing and treating issues before they escalate.
What are the Advantages of
Having Early Orthodontic Treatment?
At Glenroy Dental Group, we carefully plan the orthodontics treatment of your child to coincide with the growth of your child’s jaws. The jawbones of children are malleable, and the treatment allows their issues to be fixed at an early age, making way for proper growth and development of the jaws and teeth. Early treatment also prevents further dental problems that may lead to tooth extractions or other dental disorders. Adults have stronger jaws and are not as malleable as children, so their treatment takes quite long. Moreover, they may have to remove their permanent teeth to realign their teeth.
Best Orthodontic Appliances for Early Orthodontics
The nature of orthodontic problems may be different for every child. Hence, the orthodontic appliance/treatment applicable for their condition would be suggested and used for treatment by our practitioners. Some appliances/treatments used by our practitioners in treating early orthodontics include:
1. Braces
Depending on the oral care required by the child’s condition, they may have to wear braces for anywhere between 1 and 3 years. There are several types of modern braces, such as Invisalign, mini braces, ceramic braces, self-litigating braces, etc., that are comfortable for children to wear. However, traditional metal braces may also be suggested by our practitioner if required for your child’s condition. Once the braces are removed, children often need to wear retainers to ensure the fixed position of the teeth and jaws are maintained.
2. Palatal Expander
Children suffering from crowded teeth are usually treated with a palatal expander. This appliance helps widen the mouth’s rook, which in turn creates more room for the teeth to grow. Installing a palatal expander requires using an expansion screw and two pieces of plastic that are skilfully fixed to both sides of the molars on the upper jaw. On turning the expansion screw, mild force is applied, causing the two sides to push away from each other, which helps gradually widen the jaw. The right arch size ensures that the adult teeth grow in a better position.
3. Space Maintainers
On losing a tooth prematurely because of decay or an injury, the neighbouring teeth tend to move into the vacant space. A space maintainer ensures that the space is kept vacant till the permanent tooth comes up in its position. Space maintainers can either be a band fixed to the empty space or a temporary crown. They are removed once the permanent tooth begins to grow.
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Why Choose Glenroy Dental Group as
Your Family Dentist?
Why Choose Glenroy Dental Group as Your Family Dentist?
Dentistry is dynamic! There are several interesting trends that come and go, but we believe in keeping one thing constant which is – pre-eminence in care and the highest level of expertise. We established our clinic with the goal of providing patients with an experience that is both personalised and inspirational. To uphold this goal, we incessantly draw on the latest technologies and collaborate with dentists and specialists who demonstrate commitment and talent to look after our patients with compassion and care. Our reward is the bond we establish with our patients that pass through our doors and lay their trust in us. We have always committed ourselves to making your experience at Glenroy Dental Group a memorable and transformational one.
Where to Get the Best Early Orthodontic
Treatment For Your Child in Glenroy?
Where to Get the Best Early Orthodontic Treatment For Your Child in Glenroy?
Glenroy Dental Group has been producing amazing results with children and young people that we have had the pleasure treating since our establishment. One of the greatest rewards is seeing patients that we treated as children and young people bringing in their own kids to be treated too! The trust they put in us is just priceless!
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Have an Existing Treatment Plan?
Are you worried about the upcoming cost of your treatment? At Glenroy Dental Group we pride ourselves on transparent pricing and affordable dental care for all.
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Interest, So You Can Smile Now and Pay Later
Glenroy Dental Group offers customers a smile now and pay-over-time option for orthodontics, meaning you can get the smile of your dreams while minimising the upfront payment. We have partnered with Afterpay, Humm and HICAPS for easy health fund claims. We can also assist you with accessing your superannuation, to help you achieve your dream smile without financial burden.
