Early Treatments

TREATMENTS FOR CHILDREN & YOUNGER PATIENTS IN BUNDABERG

Smiling Wide Orthodontics

If you are a parent and believe your child requires orthodontics, there are a number of elements for you to consider:


  • Early examination—at Smiling Wide Orthodontics, we recommend making an appointment to see one of our orthodontists at around 7 to 8 years of age. This will help us to plan future treatment and spot any tooth or jaw problems. We conduct early assessments at our clinics throughout Bundaberg, Maryborough and Hervey Bay.


  • Early treatment—for some patients we may recommend starting treatment early to help prevent problems becoming more serious in the future. Early treatment enables teeth and jaws to grow correctly and give teeth plenty of room to emerge successfully. Patients who undergo early treatment can often achieve results not possible at a later age.

Many orthodontic cases can benefit from early treatment. Some of these cases include:


  • Skeletal discrepancies
  • Borderline non-extraction cases
  • Restoring lost space in dental arches
  • Severe aesthetic problems
  • Crossbites
  • Severe overbites or open bites
  • Habit prevention (e.g. thumb sucking)
  • Severe crowding
  • Developing impactions
  • Missing teeth (agenesis)

WHEN SHOULD TREATMENT BEGIN?

Age can impact a number of different issues within the mouth and we generally recommend that you see an orthodontist as early as possible. This does not necessarily mean treatment will commence immediately; however, getting a professional orthodontic specialist opinion from observing the developing teeth will ensure the best possible treatment when the time comes.

DO ALL BABY TEETH NEED TO BE LOST BEFORE TREATMENT?

Definitely not. Quite often it is beneficial to commence treatment prior to the loss of all baby teeth, to make space for the permanent teeth to erupt into better positions. This early intervention will minimise the need for more extensive treatment later on.

WHAT INVESTMENT WILL BE REQUIRED?

You can minimise expenses by starting your child's treatment at the optimal time. Finding the optimal time for treatment requires recurring observation to assess when the teeth and jaws are ready for growth.


Smiling Wide Orthodontics facilitates early detection, by not charging for the initial specialist orthodontic consultation. Any observation checks required prior to active treatment are also provided at no extra charge—even if this is over a few years. Contact us to find out more.

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