Orthodontics for Children

Visit Smiles on Queen for interceptive treatment

When a child is between the ages of 6 and 10 years old, the dentist may recommend interceptive care in order to reverse crossbites or other jaw or dental malformations.

At Smiles on Queen, we also offer comprehensive treatment once the adult teeth have started erupting. This is usually from the age of 12. From age 12, a number of orthodontic treatments can be recommended such as braces which act by slowly repositioning the teeth and jaws into alignment.

Why orthodontic treatment is important

When kids reach the age of 7, many of them have a combination of baby teeth and adult teeth. It is easier for an orthodontist to perform an evaluation and take note of problems that could be treated early without the need for surgery. Therefore, orthodontics for children allows you to:

• Correct and guide the development of your child’s permanent teeth
• Improve your child’s smile by creating more space for crowded teeth
• Avoid the need to have permanent tooth extractions
• Correct habits such as thumb sucking and minor speech issues.

It’s very important to keep an eye for common signs that your child could use orthodontic treatment. At Smiles on Queen, we encourage parents to bring their kids in for regular dental checkups. When you bring your child for a routine checkup at least once every year, we may notice any of the signs below that they may need orthodontic intervention:

• Early or late loss of baby teeth
• Thumb or finger sucking habits
• Narrow dental arches
• Chewing and biting problems
• Mouth-breathing habits
• Crowded teeth at the front around age seven or eight
• Misplaced or blocked-out teeth