Our compassionate Parramatta Orthodontist, Canterbury Orthodontist and Hurstville Orthodontist team is dedicated to providing a supportive environment every step of your child’s orthodontic journey.
Trust us to guide you with care and expertise, working together to achieve a healthy smile for your child.
The Australian Society of Orthodontists advises scheduling the first orthodontic consultation for children around the ages of 7 to 8 years.
This proactive approach allows our experienced hurstville orthodontists to detect and address any potential issues at an early stage, preventing more significant problems in the future.
Starting orthodontic treatment early can help guide your child’s teeth and jaw development, supporting healthy alignment as they grow and helping set the foundation for good oral health
During your child’s growth phase, early orthodontic treatment can help guide teeth and jaw development. Here are some signs we look for which may suggest the need for orthodontic intervention:
Early orthodontic treatment can have a host of benefits, especially if the problem can be corrected before it becomes more serious. Children’s orthodontics takes advantage of a child’s natural growth phase—the jaws, facial bones and erupting teeth are more malleable, meaning corrections can be achieved more easily and sometimes with less effort than later on.
Plus, when teeth and bite are better aligned from an early age, cleaning becomes easier, there’s less risk of decay or gum problems, less chance of trauma to protruding teeth, and better chewing and speech function.
Used to gently widen the upper jaw in growing children to create space and correct crossbites.
Twin blocks are removable functional 2 piece plates designed to encourage forward growth of the lower jaw in growing patients.
A removable plate focused on guiding jaw growth, facial development, and airway support in selected children. Twin Block and Biobloc appliances are removable devices aimed at expanding the jaw in a slow gentle way and may also help with guiding jaw posture, airway development, and facial growth in selected children with bite discrepancies.
Used in young patients to guide upper jaw growth forward in certain underbite (Class III) patterns.
BAMP is an advanced orthodontic technique used in growing children and adolescents to guide jaw growth using small bone anchors rather than external headgear. It is most commonly used for Class III (underbite) correction and selected complex bite problems during growth
Growth + teeth alignment — commonly used during the teenage years when some growth remains.
A fixed jaw-correcting appliance that works continuously to improve jaw alignment during growth. This can be combined with braces or clear aligners after functional appliance therapy to align the teeth.
Expansion may still be possible in early adolescents, sometimes combined with braces or aligners for comprehensive treatment.
Clear aligners combined with bite correction mechanics, suitable for motivated teens who want a discreet treatment option.
Highly customised fixed braces designed with 3D printing technology for efficient, precise tooth movement in complex cases.
After a thorough consultation with one of our specialist orthodontists, the following appliances may be recommended:
Palatal expanders widen the upper jaw, creating more space for crowded teeth. They can correct crossbites, improve breathing, airway function, and promote proper facial development.
Space maintainers hold space in the mouth for permanent teeth that have not erupted yet. They prevent adjacent teeth from shifting into the empty space, helping proper alignment of permanent teeth.
Functional appliances (e.g. Twin Block, Herbst Appliance) correct jaw discrepancies and promote proper jaw growth. They can improve facial aesthetics, correct bite issues, and improve overall function, including speech and chewing.
A Headgear forces teeth and jaws to correct severe bite problems and jaw discrepancies. It can guide jaw growth, improve facial balance, and correct overbites or underbites.
The Forsus appliance is a spring-loaded rod that connects the upper and lower jaws, correcting bite problems such as overbites. It provides continuous gentle forces for gradual correction
Child orthodontics (phase 1) primarily centres around your child’s jaw bones, while teenager orthodontics (phase 2) aims to straighten their adult teeth.
Child orthodontics directs attention to the jaws since they serve as the foundation for future adult teeth and play a crucial role in defining your child’s facial shape.
By initiating treatment before their teenage years, we can help the possibility of your child’s jaws having sufficient width to accommodate their future adult teeth. This can create space, reducing crowding of the teeth as they grow. Additionally, we strive to achieve a balanced facial profile for your child by positioning the jaws optimally—neither too far forward nor too far back.
Our goal is to provide your child with a facial balance that suits them as an individual.
When you’re planning orthodontic or early dental care for your child, it’s normal to be concerned about your budget.
Early interceptive orthodontic treatment in Australia begins around AUD $2,000 – $4,500, which can be a big expense for many families. For a detailed breakdown, check out our guide to kids braces cost to help you understand what to expect.
That’s why we offer 0% interest-free finance plans to help families manage the cost of treatment.
Bachelor of Oral Health (Distinction) and BSc (USyd)
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Receptionist & Orthodontic Nurse
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Don’t just take our word for it – see our before and after orthodontic transformations
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The Australian Society of Orthodontists recommends that a child have an orthodontic check‑up around age 7 to 10. That check‑up doesn’t always mean immediate treatment—but it can mean spotting potential issues early while baby and permanent teeth are mixed and the jaws are still developing.
Early orthodontic treatment means intervening while a child still has some baby teeth and before full adult dentition. It might mean simple appliances (like expanders, partial braces or functional devices) to correct bite issues, guide jaw growth, manage habits (like thumb‑sucking) or create space so that later treatment is easier.
Not necessarily —but sometimes yes. The goal of early treatment is to reduce complexity and severity of later work, not automatically to skip it altogether. Some studies show that early intervention can prevent more invasive procedures later. That said, evidence also suggests that early treatment doesn’t guarantee no further treatment will be needed—each child’s growth, response to treatment and dental development differ. Your orthodontist will advise whether early treatment means you’ll likely proceed to full braces, or simply require monitoring and minimal intervention.
Yes, your child’s general dentist plays a key role. They can monitor tooth eruption, jaw growth and flag signs of misalignment or bite issues (like cross‑bite, under‑bite, crowded teeth or early loss of baby teeth). Then, if needed, they can refer you to a specialist orthodontist for a full assessment.
If your child isn’t ready (developmentally or because no major issues are present), that’s perfectly fine. An early check‑up will tell you whether active treatment is needed now—or whether it’s safe to wait while watching growth and development. During the wait, maintaining good oral hygiene, dental check‑ups, and watching for signs (like shifting teeth, changes in bite, thumb‑sucking beyond age 5–6) will help your orthodontist proceed at the optimal time.
If your child isn’t ready for treatment we will provide free follow up reviews to monitor their dental development and jaw growth until their adult teeth are in place, we provide this as a complimentary service to our patients at Ortho Co.
