Growth Assessment for Children
An early assessment of your child’s growing teeth and jaws can help to identify potential dental problems. Where needed, we will work with you to create a customised treatment plan for this first step in your child’s orthodontic journey.
When should I bring my child for a check-up?
The American Association of Orthodontists recommends a check-up with an orthodontic specialist at the age of 7, or when the permanent teeth start to erupt. This check-up does not mean that your child needs treatment but is a good preventive measure that allows us to detect any problems early. From there, we can recommend solutions to help with your child’s tooth eruption and jaw growth. Compared to an adult or even a teen, a child’s bones are more malleable and are more receptive to growth adjustment.
What happens during a growth assessment checkup?
We will perform a detailed examination of your child’s teeth, and may supplement the check with X-rays to investigate further.
What does early treatment help to achieve?
Guide eruption of permanent teeth into more favourable positions
Reduce risk of damage to protruded front teeth
Proper jaw growth
Improve facial appearance
Eliminate harmful oral habits
What are some conditions I should look out for?
Early loss of baby teeth
Asymmetric eruption of permanent teeth (e.g. the tooth on the right did not erupt for more than 6 months after the same tooth on the left has erupted)
Protruding upper teeth
Protruding lower teeth (in front of the upper teeth), anterior crossbite, reverse bite or “underbite”
Crooked teeth
Open bite (excess vertical space between the upper and lower teeth, front teeth are unable to bite)
Slanted jaws
Chewing difficulty
Speech difficulty
Habits — thumb sucking, chewing on nails or pencils