Orthodontics for

kids

Soins orthodontiques

When Should Children and Adolescents Consult?

Seven years old is the ideal age for a first consultation because this is when adult or permanent teeth appear in the mouth and certain anomalies, such as palatal constriction, can be corrected. With early treatment, proper guidance for jaw growth and permanent teeth development can be provided through what we call a first-phase (interceptive) procedure, thereby avoiding worse complications such as surgery in adulthood and/or future extraction of permanent teeth required for correcting a palate that is too narrow, creating space for new teeth to come, correcting bad habits such as thumb-sucking or atypical swallowing. In addition, if a second phase of treatment were to become necessary during teenage years, this follow-up treatment would be shorter and less complex.

We offer white brackets (3M Clarity), customizable devices, and coloured elastic and/or ligatures that can be changed during each appointment.

What Is Orthodontics?

Orthodontics is a specialty of dentistry that is devoted to the diagnosis, prevention and correction of abnormal teeth positioning and malocclusions for functional and/or aesthetic purposes. Orthodontic treatments improve functions like chewing, breathing, swallowing and growth. Well-aligned teeth are also easier to clean, which helps prevent cavities, gum disease and, in extreme cases, tooth loss. Patients who receive orthodontic treatments for aesthetic reasons notice a significant increase in self-esteem following their treatment.

Orthodontics can correct the following:

Over-bite or under-bite
Long face
Excessively gummy smiles
Too much (or not enough) spacing between teeth
Lips that do not close completely
Asymmetrical smiles
Cleft lip and/or palate (harelip)

Orthodontists

Orthodontists specialize in the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of dentofacial irregularities. Orthodontists receive advanced academic training. At first, they must complete four or five years of dentistry study at a university recognized by the Canadian Dental Association.

They must then successfully complete a two-to-three-year residency in orthodontics. Their post-graduate studies cover topics such as genetics, embryology, biophysics and the growth and development of the human body. Only dentists who have successfully completed such training can call themselves orthodontists.