The best orthodontic treatments for children, explained

Do you want to avoid your child having to go through lengthy orthodontic treatments later on in life because of misaligned teeth?

Then start as soon as possible with regular dental check-ups! At Muswell Hill Smile dental practice, we offer early orthodontic intervention, correcting your child’s crooked teeth from as young as 6 years.

Why? Teeth straightening can improve your child’s life quality dramatically as early orthodontic treatment has been found to improve

– posterior crossbites, which curb function,

– anterior crossbites resulting in traumatic occlusion and damaging the lower anterior teeth,

– anterior open bites which cause aesthetic distress as well as masticatory dysfunction

Early intervention performs the same function as interceptive orthodontics. We aim to prevent or reduce the progression of minor orthodontic problems into full-blown malocclusion later in life. This supports the regular development of the dental arches, gums and teeth.

Orthodontic treatments that work for children

Modern orthodontic treatments are fortunately becoming less invasive, more convenient with even shorter treatment periods, which is especially important for young children. They often worry about pain or don’t want to spend much time in the dentist chair. As specialists in early orthodontic treatments, we have found several child-friendly and effective orthodontic treatments that offer the results required.

These range from fully customized lingual braces, functional appliances and Invisalign braces for teenagers. On top of that, we are one of a few practices in the UK offering Myobrace.

What is Myobrace for Kids?

Myobrace for Kids™ contains three appliances made of flexible silicone to be fitted and placed in the child’s mouth. They’re designed to correct poor oral habits and treat upper and lower jaw development problems. Myobrace helps reduce orthodontic problems like mouth breathing, tongue thrusting, incorrect swallowing and thumb sucking, which can, later on, lead to crooked or misaligned teeth. These braces are removable only worn for 1-2 hours each day and overnight while sleeping. The whole process is better explained in this video.

What are Invisalign braces for teenagers?

If this orthodontic system is adequate for the orthodontic treatment of your child, it will be required to wear retainers that are transparent and removable on a daily basis. Your child will be able to continue with their normal oral hygiene routine and eat and drink as usual. Another benefit of Invisalign braces is that the child experiences less pain or discomfort compared to traditional metal braces.

Here are some reasons why we recommend this treatment:

• Because of the clear aligners which are hardly noticeable and don’t impact the look of your child/teenager.
• Invisalign aligners are made of smooth materials and contain no irritating metal wires. They are not fixed and can be removed easily for eating, which makes them much more comfortable than traditional braces.
• Your child’s teeth and gums will remain healthy while straightening them with Invisalign as brushing and flossing is no problem.
• Treatment is quick and painless – our orthodontist will use a digital scanner to analyze your child’s teeth. The Invisalign software then plans their individual orthodontic treatment step by step. When the aligners have been made, your child can take home 3 sets at a time which means fewer adjustments and appointments.

What are Lingual Braces for children?

These fixed braces are planted at the back of your teeth and do their work behind the teeth so that they’re hardly visible. However, this makes the installation more difficult, especially for children. Lingual braces can also irritate the tongue initially, are harder to keep clean and cost more. Therefore, we usually recommend removable appliances for children that are custom-fitted to their teeth.

What are Functional Appliances for children?

To treat narrow jaws and underdeveloped lower jaws, which are usually caused by crowded teeth and thumb sucking, can usually be corrected with functional appliances. These are used to correct bone problems in addition to orthodontic braces. The ideal age for functional appliances to be used can be as early as 4 years, which can reduce the time the child must wear braces and the need for the extraction of permanent teeth.

Find the best early orthodontic treatment for your child

It’s best to book an appointment for an initial consultation with our expert orthodontists Dr. Amin Amenien or Dr. Fariba Banaie. They will be able to individually suggest the best treatment and orthodontic system for your child and ensure they will grow up with healthy and beautiful teeth.