The goal of early orthodontic treatment is to guide the growth and development of a child’s jaw so that there is enough room for permanent teeth to come through straight.
Toothbeary Orthodontics for the young patient...
It's never too early to keep an eye on your child's oral development. Your Toothbeary dentist can identify malocclusion (crowded or crooked teeth or bite problems) and actively intervene to guide the teeth as they emerge in the mouth. Early Orthodontic treatment can prevent more extensive treatment later on.
What causes crowded teeth and other orthodontic problems?
Malocclusion is often inherited. Orthodontic problems are also caused by dental injuries, the early loss of primary teeth or thumb sucking, fingernail biting or lip biting. We can help your child avoid oral habits that may create orthodontic problems.
What does early orthodontic treatment mean?
The goal of early orthodontic treatment is to guide the growth and development of a child’s jaw so that there is enough room for permanent teeth to come through straight.
From age five to twelve, children can be treated with removable appliances that guide the development of the jaw, as well as the position of the permanent teeth as they erupt.
Why is early orthodontic care important?
Making space early may reduce or eliminate the need for further orthodontic treatment, tooth extraction surgery and even jaw surgery at a later age.
The upper and lower jaws are about 80% grown at age 6 and 90% grown by age 8, so treatment after age 8 can be too late.
Our objectives for advising early orthodontic treatment are:
- To reduce the total treatment time
- To prevent relapse (reverse to the original condition)
- To receive better result
- To support in speech therapy
- To avoid future surgical intervention
Some of the problems which require early orthodontic treatment include:
- A cross bite of the back and front teeth
- An extremely narrow upper dental arch
- Inadequate growth and development of the midface
- Severe crowding which prevents the normal eruption of adult teeth
- Adult front teeth which are protruding excessively and are therefore in danger of being traumatised
Mouth appliance
At Toothbeary we use the excellent Muppy® range of mouth appliances to correct crooked teeth and also to break bad habits such as thumb sucking.
The Muppy® Standard
The Muppy® promotes the self-healing of existing anomalies and helps eliminate speech defects. It also corrects malfunctions of the tongue and eliminates harmful mouth breathing. It can also be used to replace a pacifier.
The Muppy® Bite Cap and The Muppy® Wireguard
Both these versions can be used to correct damage which has been caused by thumb sucking or the frequent use of a pacifier. Our dentists would be delighted to explain the benefits of these mouth appliances and which one is best suited to your child’s needs.
Caring for your Orthodontic Appliance
How to fit your appliance
- Always use your thumbs to fit the upper jaw appliance in
- Use your pointing fingers for the lower jaw appliance
Hygiene
- You should clean your appliance twice a day with toothpaste
- Once a week, use disinfection tablets. Put half a tablet in a glass of water for 15 min, then rinse well
- Always keep the box open
- If there are any lime stains, put the appliance in vinegar water for 15 min
How to wear your appliance
- Your appliance should be in your mouth for at least 18 hours each day (afternoon and night)
- You should practise wearing your appliance during the daytime
- Never wear your appliance during sports
- If you are not wearing your appliance keep it in the box.
If your appliance doesn't fit 100% or you have any pain, telephone the practice immediately to see a dentist.
Call Toothbeary today on 020 8831 6870 or click here to book your initial consultation.
