This post is sponsored by the Australian Society of Orthodontists (ASO).
Your child’s smile is one of their most important features. It’s the first sign of affection we look for after they are born, and it will always be the one that that will melt your heart in an instant. Protecting that smile can be easier than you think.
I never wore braces as a kid (I refused point blank to have them) which in hindsight was not one of my best ideas. I always thought they were these hideous metal things that you had painfully attached to your teeth during your early teens – right when you are socially and emotionally the most vulnerable! I think that reputation is still floating around because when I chatted to Josh about the possibly of having braces,he was much more open to the idea of getting braces than I ever was because a lot of his friends are currently going through the same thing.
The shoe is on the other foot now because as his parent I really want the best for his teeth and smile, so I decided to do a bit of investigating into the realms of orthodontics. I didn’t want to get hit with resistance like my parents did. There is so much that I didn’t know, and I was pleasantly surprised by how easy it all is.
Did you know that you don’t need a referral to see an orthodontist AND
the best time to take your child is between the ages of 7-10?
I booked an appointment to see an Orthodontist last week for both Josh and Hollie and off we went, Josh and I both armed with a million questions!
I am so glad we went as I discovered that some of the problems their teeth are displaying can be so easily fixed WITHOUT braces just because I’ve brought them in early. That’s not to say they won’t need braces later on, but hopefully the fixes will be so much simpler. Josh (and I) were secretly relieved to discover that you can get all kinds of braces these days, including ones that are practically see-through so you hardly even notice they are there. SO much better for your street cred as a teen!
We also discussed thumb sucking and sleep aponea. Orthodontists are experts in facial grown and development and can work alongside a sleep physician to help fix the problem. Hollie started sucking her thumb before she was even born and it took us years to get her to stop. I was so worried it might have caused permanent damage to her jaw. The Orthodontist very quickly put my mind at ease. Once again, by bringing her in for an early assessment, all major problems I have avoided any major problems. A huge relief I must admit.
We also discovered that between them they still have 10 baby teeth to lose, so the tooth fairy is not out of a job just yet.
If you don’t know where to start use the FIND AND ORTHODONTIST tool on the ASO website and it will guide you to the right place.
5 comments on “Kids Orthodontics. Everything you need to know”
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Wow, I didn’t realise you could take kids to the orthodontist quite so soon. I have to say that I had quite the opposite experience to you, Robyn. My crooked teeth made me so self-conscious that I was relieved to get braces on – it felt like every second girl at my school had them. I loved having different coloured bands every month and all in all it was a really positive experience. And 25 years later I’m so glad I had them!
That’s pretty cool. I’m trying my best to try and make it all positive for my kids too. It’s amazing the power of peer pressure really x
I MUST take my oldest child to see a specialist, I fear we will be going down the orthodontist track, my sisters and I both had braces – eck! Great post and thanks for reminder xx
This post is very informative Robyn. It’s a big help especially for young mothers. Thanks for sharing.
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