Healthy, beautiful, strong: working with you to safeguard your child’s smile
Advanced early orthodontics in Newbury
Book a free initial consultation for teeth straightening from the comfort of your own home via video, or schedule a visit to our Newbury location.
Early orthodontics is a growing area of dentistry that addresses the root causes of crooked teeth from the age of 7 – potentially reducing or eliminating the need for braces during the teen years. Orthodontic problems are often the result of early issues surrounding the development of a child’s jaw. Correct jaw growth is guided by the position and use of the tongue, so when children develop habits that affect this – such as mouth breathing, tongue thrusting or thumb sucking – it can often result in a jaw that is too small to accommodate the adult teeth. Whereas traditional orthodontic treatment generally requires children to wait until they are at least 12 before having braces, early orthodontics involves an assessment at around the age of 7. If a problem is identified, there are now a number of gentle, non-invasive treatment options that can considered at an earlier age, while the growing jaw is still soft and pliable. If you think your child would benefit from an early orthodontic assessment in Newbury, book an appointment today at Westbrook House Dental Surgery.
Children’s braces in Newbury
If your child or teenager needs braces, we offer a comprehensive private orthodontic service in Newbury. Unlike NHS orthodontics, there is no waiting list – plus we can welcome cosmetic cases that aren’t covered by the NHS. We have a special interest in orthodontics, so you can feel confident that we will recommend the best course of action for your child’s needs, and our experienced orthodontic therapist is adept at helping children acclimatise to their treatment and maintain healthy teeth and gums with good cleaning practices. If you would like your child to have an orthodontic consultation in Newbury, simply give us a call to make an appointment.
FAQs
How do I know if my child needs early orthodontic treatment?
If you notice any of the following signs, let us know during your child’s next check-up and we’ll advise you if we think they would benefit from an early orthodontic assessment:
- Early (before age 5), late or irregular loss of baby teeth
- Biting or chewing difficulties
- Underbite or overbite
- Mouth breathing and/or snoring
- Crowded, crooked or misplaced teeth
- Protruding front teeth
- Thumb sucking beyond age 5
- Jaws and teeth that are out of proportion to the rest of the face
What does early orthodontic treatment involve?
Early orthodontic treatment is very gentle and incorporates a number of techniques and methods. Treatment can range from timely help with habit correction to introducing easy-to-wear devices (often between the ages of 8 and 12) that either maintain or create space in the mouth for the adult teeth to come through in the correct place.
Can early orthodontics eliminate the need for traditional braces?
In many cases, yes, although we may recommend short-term braces at the end of early orthodontic treatment if you want your child’s smile to be cosmetically perfect.