Provider
Guiding Growing Smiles
Welcome to our Early Growth Guidance program where we offer orthodontic assessments and monitoring for children.
At Shoreline Orthodontics, we love helping kids grow healthy, confident smiles. Our Early Growth Guidance program checks how your child's teeth, bite, and jaws are developing – starting at age 7.
Most kids don't need treatment right away. We continue to monitor with short, easy visits every 12-18 months. We only intervene at a young age when we have concerns related to crossbite, underbites, space loss, or teeth that are not properly erupting.
When early intervention is required, we offer a number of conservative treatment options for kids on Vancouver Island. In rare cases, we may recommend braces for children.
Consultations & Monitoring for Children
Children are encouraged to have their first orthodontic consultation around age seven. This appointment allows us to assess whether any orthodontic treatment is necessary. If it is, we will start a treatment plan. If not, we provide complimentary assessment appointments every six to 12 months until your child is prepared for full orthodontic care.
Interceptive Appliances
Early orthodontic treatment can take many gentle and effective forms, often without the need for braces.
The following interceptive appliances may be part of your children's early orthodontic treatment at Shoreline Orthodontics, and can help minimize the need for more complex orthodontic treatments in the future.
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Palatal Expanders
Palatal expansion treatment uses an orthodontic device to widen a narrow upper jaw, giving the teeth enough space to grow in the correct positions in the mouth.
Palatal expanders have a screw component that when turned, widens the appliance and applies a force to the roof of the mouth and the back teeth. This force develops the width of the upper jaw. Once the ideal width is created, the appliance stays in place an additional three to four months to allow the new bone to solidify.
Performing palatal expansion during a child's dental growth phase can help prevent or reduce jaw and teeth misalignments. In some cases, it can also help the child eat, breathe, and speak more easily.
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Retainers
Retainers are a simple and effective way of correcting many eruption problems in young children.
Wire clasps are added to help the retainer stay in place and springs are added to help the retainer move the tooth specific to your child's issue.
The orthodontist will activate the springs during treatment. Most retainers are worn for 3-9 months with good participation from the child.
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Holding Arches
Used when baby teeth are removed ahead of schedule, holding arches-sometimes called spacers-offer a simple way to hold space while waiting for the eruption of adult teeth.
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Bite plates
Used when the top and bottom teeth meet in a way that is painful for the patient or destructive to the teeth, bite plates separate the teeth and provide relief from discomfort until it is time for full treatment.
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Reverse-Pull Head Gear
One of the most common interceptive treatments, this appliance is used to address underbites in children between the ages of 8 and 10. Timing is critical in this treatment, as the window for success is relatively short.
Book Consultation
No referral is needed – simply complete and submit the form below, and we will reach out to confirm your child's appointment.