Clunky, metal orthodontic plates are a thing of the past thanks to Invisalign.
Clear and hard to notice, Invisalign aligners can be used to correct an overbite just like the traditional plate – but they can also help realign the jaw – meaning less chance of your child needing braces or jaw surgery in the future.
Dr Gopal Kataria at Anglehouse Orthodontics says Invisalign can be used to improve the alignment of the teeth and bite which can help avoid extraction of teeth or other invasive procedures.
“Using Invisalign in young children may avoid the need for braces in the future,” Dr Kataria says.
“It covers the whole tooth, which is something the metal plate cannot do.”
He said that often parents saw their children losing their baby teeth and thought it was normal – but losing teeth too early can sometimes mean that teeth move into the gap where new teeth should grow.
“In these cases I can use Invisalign to regain the space – instead of plates.”
Parents worried their kids won’t wear Invisalign should breathe a sigh of relief too.
They are worn just like the removable plates – with the added bonus of being practically invisible and much more comfortable. It also means those with self-esteem issues won’t be concerned about wearing them because they won’t see the “train track” appearance of braces on their teeth.
While parents are usually pretty good at taking their children to see the dentist every six months, Dr Kataria says the orthodontist is just as important.
At your first visit to Anglehouse Orthodontics an XRay is taken of your child’s jaw in order to see teeth developing inside the bone. That helps Dr Kataria identify any issues and as a result he can put plans in place to guide jaw growth, lower the risk of trauma to protruding teeth and avoid the need for extraction or jaw surgery later on.
He can also identify the constriction of the upper jaw caused by thumb sucking or fingers in mouth and set up ways to break these habits and improve the appearance of protruding teeth.
“Early intervention is really important,” Dr Kataria said.
“Not only does it allow us to set the foundation for correcting problems but it ensures our children’s health, self-esteem and wellbeing are a priority”.
Anglehouse Orthodontics
7 Whitehorse Road, Balwyn
