Early Orthodontic care and functional appliance use:
Your
Dentist or School Dental Therapist may have talked of malocclusion in relation
to your child’s teeth. The term ‘malocclusion’ means that his or her teeth or
jaws are not quite in the right place. For example, the upper teeth may stick
out too far in front, be crowded together or the bite may be very deep and
overlapping.
In the past, orthodontic work was usually carried out when all permanent teeth
were through—however, it is now widely recognized that certain problems
including discrepancies between the upper and lower teeth and jaws can be more
easily modified while the child is actually growing.
Ian Ongley and Fred Hunter are Otago-trained Dentists. Although they are not
specialist orthodontists, they practice functional orthodontics looking at the
overall health of the patient as well as the straightening of teeth. Some of the benefits of early treatment
include the opportunity to guide the
growth of the jaws, and other benefits are listed below.
Benefits of early treatment:
Benefits of early treatment allows for the opportunity to:
- Guide the growth of the jaw
- Regulate the width of the upper jaw and upright inward growing lower teeth
- Guide growing permanent teeth
- Lower the risk of trauma to protruding upper teeth
- Correct thumb or finger sucking
Help correct mouth breathing tendencies
- Reduce or eliminate abnormal swallowing or speech problems
- Assist with cranial and neck imbalances
- Improve personal appearance and self-esteem
- Simplify and/or shorten treatment time for later corrective orthodontics
- Reduce the likelihood of impacted permanent teeth (teeth that should have
erupted but have not)
- Preserve or even gain space for permanent teeth that are erupting.
How the process begins:
Your first appointment is a consultation when your Dentist will look at your
child’s teeth, jaw position and facial features. He/she will explain a little
about orthodontics, first impressions on your child’s occlusion and jaw
relationship and possible treatment.
The next appointment will be for record-taking. This is where we gather all the
information needed to make a diagnosis and prepare a treatment plan. Impressions
and a wax bite and photos are taken of your child’s teeth, and an appointment
for orthodontic X-rays organised.
During the treatment plan appointment, all findings, treatment options and
diagnosis are discussed. A letter of confirmation with pricing details included
will be sent to you and the plate/plates ordered (if required). Following the
insertion of the plates, it is usual to have monthly adjustment appointments
until the active stage is complete and then the patient enters the retainer
phase.
Sometimes fixed braces are used to finalize the position of teeth prior to
retainers.
If cranial, neck or breathing abnormalities are detected, referrals to
chiropractors or cranial osteopaths may be recommended.
Wearing a retainer:
The retention phase of orthodontic treatment is most important as our teeth
tend to move throughout life naturally. Your child’s Dentist will prescribe a
period for wearing his/her retainer. It is vital that all
instructions during
and after active orthodontic treatment are adhered to for this treatment to be
successful.
Treatment costs:
Your first 3 appointments for treatment are: Consultation, ($74) Record
taking ($505) and treatment plan (no charge). At this stage a letter will be
sent with all information about the treatment, costs involved etc.
To make an appointment:
Please contact the Champion Dental Centre on 04 237 9081 or the Kapiti Dental
Centre on 04 298 6754 to make an appointment.
<< Return to Services page
<< Go to Care of Orthodonic Appliances
