Did you know that oral health is the first step to protecting your child’s overall health? The earlier you treat dental problems, the better the outcome will be. At Narayana Health, the Paediatric Orthodontics Department specialises in treating dental problems in children, which are very different from those in adults. Headed by highly experienced Child Orthodontists and supported by cutting-edge infrastructure, we ensure patient-centric, personalised care for every child.

We offer the latest advances in paediatric dental treatments for teeth alignment problems in children. With wide experience in dealing with children, our specialists ensure your child is comfortable and learns good oral health habits that will serve them well throughout their lives.

When to Visit a Child Orthodontist

Misaligned teeth are a common problem in children. However, crooked teeth don’t just spoil your child’s beautiful smile, they are unhealthy. They can lead to physical discomfort, problems in chewing food properly and difficulty in cleaning the teeth adequately. The result could be bacterial infections, cavities, digestion issues and much more. In addition, if your child needs to put in more effort to chew their food, it could lead to headaches, and jaw and neck pain. Misaligned teeth are also known to cause breathing problems that could continue into adult life.

Misalignment or malocclusions occur due to several reasons, such as:

Missing or extra teeth
Disproportionate size of teeth
Thumb sucking
Mouth breathing
Tongue thrusting

Also, misalignment can present itself in multiple ways, such as:

Overbite: Here, the lower teeth protrude much beyond the upper teeth.
Underbite: Here, the upper teeth don’t come down slightly in front of the lower teeth when the jaws are brought together.
Open bite: There is space between the biting surfaces of the front and/or side teeth when the back teeth are brought together.
Spacing: The presence of gaps between the teeth.
Misplaced midline: hen the centres of upper and lower teeth do not line up.
Crowding: Here, too many teeth can crowd a small area of the dental ridge.

If you observe any of the above or if you see the following signs, they indicate a need to give your child the right orthodontic care from a trusted paediatric orthodontics department:

Early or late loss of baby teeth, which can lead to problems in the growth of permanent teeth.
Difficulty biting or chewing, which can result in discomfort or pain while eating.
Mouth breathing, which could be a result of an orthodontic problem.
Jaws clicking or shifting, where the lower jaw might shift or make clicking sounds due to a bite problem (overbite, underbite, etc.)
Cheek biting, where your child frequently bites their inner cheeks due to a crossbite or other dental conditions.
Facial Imbalance, where the child’s facial features are affected due to misaligned teeth or jaws.

It is best to seek paediatric dental treatment, as soon as you notice any orthodontic problems in your child because the problem will only worsen if left unattended.

Paediatric Dental Treatments We Offer

We take special care to deliver children’s dental care tailored to each child's unique needs. For this, we begin by understanding the dental and health history of your child and performing a physical exam. After this, we might require dental X-rays and photographs for the accurate treatment of specific issues. You can get your child’s bite evaluated by an orthodontist as early as 2-3 years of age to determine the risk of crooked teeth. Early intervention can decrease the need for, and time taken in later orthodontic procedures.

We offer the following options to treat misaligned teeth:

Ceramic Braces

These are among the best braces for kids and are made of porcelain rather than metal. This makes the braces softer and more reliable for use in children. Another benefit is that they are available in different shades to match your child’s teeth and make them almost invisible. This way, your child need not feel embarrassed about wearing dental braces to school and they can smile confidently without being conscious of their braces.

The downside is that ceramic braces tend to cost more than metal ones. We leave the choice completely up to you. Both types of braces do their job well. However, medical advances have brought us lingual braces and Invisalign, which do cost much more than normal braces for kids, but they are also more reliable.

Lingual Braces

These braces are on the back of the teeth, which means they remain hidden. If your child feels uncomfortable with their dental braces showing, this could be a good choice to protect their self-confidence and motivate them to follow the required orthodontic care. However, lingual braces should be avoided for some types of dental conditions. For instance, they are not recommended for children with a severe overbite, since there is a risk of the braces getting detached. Lingual braces for kids might also take some time to get used to and cause temporary speech issues, such as lisping.

Invisalign

This is an invisible aligning tray that can be worn throughout the day and taken off to brush the teeth or while eating. This type of dental braces tends to be much more reliable, but it also needs the child to be responsible about wearing them correctly and regularly. This is why Invisalign is not recommended for children who might be tempted to take them off.

Pediatric Orthodontics for Children of Different Ages

Paediatric dental treatment takes care of orthodontic problems in children from the age of 2 through their teenage years. The treatments are divided into three stages.

1. Early Orthodontic Care (2-6 years)

The age of 2 might seem very early for paediatric orthodontics but bite, jaw growth, early loss of baby teeth and breathing issues benefit from early intervention. At this stage, the child orthodontist guides and regulates the development of the dental arches, while helping you eliminate harmful habits such as thumb sucking or the need for a pacifier. The specialist might also recommend dental appliances to support jaw development or prevent emerging teeth from shifting to undesired positions.

2. Middle Dentition (6-12 years)

Here, children's dental care addresses overbite or underbite problems, jaw alignment, etc., by slowly straightening the permanent teeth. At this age, children have both hard and soft tissues, which makes it the ideal time to correct malocclusions. Dental braces might be recommended for some kids.

3. Adolescent Dentition (13 years and above)

If you have ensured regular dental care for your child till their teen years, you can now focus on improving the aesthetics of the teeth. Dental braces are the usual option to straighten crooked teeth. Invisalign might also be an option because your child is now older. The average treatment time for braces at this stage is about 2 years, although the timeframe depends on the specific situation.

Narayana Health’s Paediatric Orthodontics Department is among the best in India. We ensure the best dental care for children by using only the latest advances in orthodontic treatment. Our child orthodontists are always available to support and guide you to make an informed decision regarding your child’s dental health. Remember that good overall health begins with taking care of oral health.