Child orthodontics

Removable braces are clear plastic plates that clip into place behind your child’s teeth. They are held in place by a thin metal wire. Removable braces can be used to treat crossbites, overbites and crowding.

Early treatment with removable braces may prevent future orthodontic problems, or ease future treatment with fixed braces if necessary.

Functional appliances are removable appliances that are worn on both the upper and lower teeth. They are effective when used just before the teenage growth spurt, which is usually between the ages of 8-12 in boys and 8-11 in girls.

The twin block is the most common functional appliance we use. It positions the lower jaw further forward over time to slowly improve the lower jaw position. Treatment usually lasts between 6 to 12 months.

The Carriere^® Motion 3D appliance is a small, discreet appliance that fits onto the side of your teeth. This minimally invasive and comfortable appliance provides an alternative way to correct misaligned back teeth before treatment with braces or Invisalign^® aligners.

The Carriere^® Motion 3D appliance delivers a light backward force and controlled rotation of the molars to move the whole canine-to-molar segment as a unit. Treatment time takes approximately four to six months to complete (with good compliance).

Traditional metal braces are the original orthodontic option. We can use them to treat even complex orthodontic issues. Modern metal brackets are smaller and more comfortable than braces of the past, and are even more effective at straightening your smile.

Braces work using a series of brackets (attached to each tooth), a metal archwire (going through the brackets) and small elastics to hold it all together. Children enjoy that they can change the colour of their elastics to suit their mood or celebrate certain holidays.

To progress through treatment, your child will come in for regular adjustment appointments where we will place targeted pressure on their teeth through small bends in their archwires. This pressure will slowly guide your child’s smile into alignment.

Clear ceramic braces work in the same way as traditional metal braces, except the brackets are made from clear or tooth-coloured ceramic material. Ceramic brackets can blend in naturally with your smile, and paired with a white archwire, they make a very discreet treatment option.

Invisalign^® First is an Invisalign^® treatment for kids. It uses custom clear aligners to guide the growth of your child’s smile. These aligners are removable, so your child doesn’t need to adjust their diet or brushing and flossing habits during treatment.

Your child may need a space maintainer to hold space for their future adult teeth if they lose any of their baby teeth earlier than expected. We have both fixed and removable space maintainers available.

Fixed space maintainers are more common and are usually recommended in most cases. They use a band that is cemented onto a tooth (normally a molar tooth). The space maintainer will remain there until the permanent tooth has started to grow in.

Removable space maintainers look a bit like retainers and should be worn for most of the day. Some of these can have a false tooth added for aesthetic reasons if needed. These space maintainers can be removed for eating and cleaning.

Contact sports and physical activities may pose a risk to your child’s teeth, so we recommend protecting their teeth, gums and appliance using a custom mouthguard.

Mouthguards for patients with braces can be designed so that both upper and lower teeth are protected and have enough space to accommodate their braces. A generic mouthguard won’t offer the same protection and can still result in injury to your child’s mouth or appliance.

Not only do we provide custom orthodontic treatments for children, we also offer gentle paediatric dental services. This includes the use of inhalation sedation as needed for nervous children. We can help your child with:

• Fissure sealants
• Fluoride varnish
• Fillings
• Dental crowns
• Root canal treatment
• Dental extractions
• And more!