 |
|
What is
Orthodontics? |
|
|
|
STAGE 1 :
PREVENTION/INTERCEPTION, STAGES OF GROWTH |
|
|
|
CHILDREN AGED
3-6YEARS |
|
|
|
Deciduous or
baby teeth stage |
|
At this very
important stage in your child’s development your orthodontist
is concerned very much more than with the condition of your
child’s teeth but more in the position and symmetry of your
child’s jaws. This is looking to see future growth trends,
spacing of the teeth, particularly breathing and other oral
habits which can, over a period of time, result in unwanted or
abnormal development of the teeth and the face. |
|
|
|
Should the
orthodontist decide that your child would benefit from
interceptive orthodontic treatment, below are listed some of
the procedures that are routinely done at this stage in the
clinic: |
1. Orthopaedic
changes with either removable or fixed appliances.
2. Maintenance of space for the teeth with removable or fixed
appliances. Soft comfortable appliances to alter the behaviour
of the child’s habits.
3. Referral to a paediatrician or ear, nose and throat
specialist to assess the tonsils or adenoids, if your child
has a breathing problem or allergies. |
|
|
|
Treatment
initiated at this stage of development is often successful,
and many times, although not always, can eliminate the need
for complicated orthodontic treatment with fixed and
functional appliances. |
|
|
|
Orthodontics
for young children |
|
|
|
Get started
early for that all important winning smile. |
|
|
|
No-one wants to
have an ugly smile or crooked teeth, so you are very fortunate
if you have the opportunity to get braces at this stage. You
are at the perfect age for braces. When you are young, your
teeth, jaws and chewing muscles are still growing, so it is
much easier for the orthodontist to correct the position of
your teeth and jaws. |
|
Why
orthodontics? |
Braces
straighten out your crooked teeth and help your jaws and the
muscles of your face grow into a good bite. Your smile and
your profile look much better, and your teeth may stay
healthy. If they are better aligned they are easier to clean.
By wearing braces at a young age the treatment time may be
reduced. |
|
|
|
The practice
routinely uses orthopaedic appliances. This means we are
trying to grow your upper and lower jaw into the ideal
position such that, you not only have a good face and a good
smile, but that we are setting up the balance of your teeth,
jaws and muscles to protect your jaw joints as much as
possible as you get older. |
|
|
|
Teenage
orthodontics |
|
|
Obviously all of
us want to look good and have a wonderful smile. So how do
braces actually help?
They do more than just improve your smile, they can also help
your teeth and jaws fit together better, and function more
efficiently.
You can look good with your braces on too. So please don’t
worry about Ugly Betty or fixed appliance braces, as at the
Clearstep centre’s we can treat all problems with your teeth
and jaw’s using clear braces on your front teeth, or combine
this with brackets on the inside of your teeth, lingual braces
or, removable appliances where there is nothing showing at the
front of your mouth and any wire work is at the back, unseen,
so you can still smile, socialise and feel confident while you
are getting that perfect smile. |
|
|
|
We are looking
for proper condylar position in the mandible, improving the
facial aesthetics in all patients, non extraction as much as
possible, early orthopaedic arch development, healthy
temporomandibular joints and minimum time in fixed appliance
orthodontics. Wherever possible do everything in an aesthetic,
comfortable and easy to wear manner for our patients. |
|
|
|
All of this can
be done with braces that are either clear transparent or
hidden inside the teeth and it is available for all ages
including younger children. |
