Excellence in the service of your child's smile
Children's orthodontics
Correct alignment of teeth dès jeune âge, c'will give your child a healthy, functional and fulfilled smile for life.
Orthodontics in children can detect, prevent or correct dental or jaw growth problems at an early stage, to ensure harmonious development without discomfort.
This is known as interception processing.
Why and to what should you consult a child orthodontist?
Orthodontics for children can be grouped under the name of interceptive orthodontics or interceptive treatment.
This phase is not compulsory, but may be necessary between the ages of 6 and 11.
Interception processing
It can be started in deciduous or mixed dentition (the phase of dentition when deciduous and permanent teeth are present), and can accelerate or slow jaw growth in children.
There are various interception processes:
- some fixed (circuit-breaker on rings, mini-rings, lingual arch, etc.) ;
- or removable ones (jack plate, Hawley plate, functional educators, etc.).
Interception processing objectives
Interceptive treatment in orthodontics offers several important advantages:
Guiding growth and preventing future problems
The main aim of interceptive treatment is to identify and treat orthodontic anomalies as soon as they appear, before they develop into more serious problems requiring complex interventions. This treatment helps direct and control jaw growth in children, promoting the harmonious development of teeth and bones. This can reduce the need for more extensive treatment in adolescence.
Improved dental function and prevention of trauma to incisors
Correcting tooth alignment and positioning problems from an early age improves chewing, breathing and phonation, which can have a positive impact on a child's quality of life. Furthermore, teeth that are too far forward expose the permanent incisors to the risk of fracture; interceptive orthodontics prevents this risk.
Facilitates subsequent orthodontic treatment
Early treatment reduces the risk of severe malocclusions. When problems are corrected early, orthodontic treatment in adolescenceisoften easier and quicker.
In short, interceptive orthodontic treatment is essential to guide tooth growth and prevent more complex problems in the future. It also helps to reduce the length and intensity of treatments needed later.
A phase of monitoring the evolution of the teeth is implemented, before resuming, if necessary, the second phase of treatment once all the permanent teeth have come out.
Our treatment solutions for children
1. Fixtures
-
VESTIBULAR CONVENTIONAL RINGS (CERAMIC or METALLIC)
Braces (or multi-attachment braces) consist of small attachments glued to the teeth (brackets) with a wire that helps them straighten out little by little.
Ceramic braces, which are less visible than metal braces, blend in with the natural color of the teeth, guaranteeing a more discreet treatment.
-
DISCONNECTOR
It's a device attached to the roof of the mouth, used to widen the upper jaw when it's too narrow. The activation phase (where the screw is turned) lasts about 2 to 3 weeks.
The appliance is then left in place for a few months to stabilize the new jaw width.
The circuit breaker can be complemented by the placement of bands on the anterior teeth to align the teeth and create space for the development of the permanent teeth.
-
LINGUAL BOWS
A lingual arch is a small metal appliance that passes behind the lower teeth on the tongue side.
It is attached to the molars (back teeth) with bands that surround or cover the teeth.
It can be used to save space for permanent teeth (following early loss of a baby tooth) or to correct small movements of the lower teeth (or jaw).
-
SPACE MAINTAINER
A space maintainer is a small appliance used when a child loses a baby tooth too early. Its purpose is to keep the space free for the permanent tooth that will grow in later.
Without it, neighboring teeth could move and take up the space, hindering proper tooth growth.
2. Removable appliances
-
VERRIN PLATE
It's a removable appliance with verrins (small metal elements) that exert gentle pressure to guide the teeth or jaw into the correct position. They can be used for a variety of purposes: to move teeth or widen the upper jaw, to stabilize teeth after orthodontic treatment, or to prepare the ground for more extensive treatment in the future (such as braces or aligners).
-
PUL (Universal Light Thruster)
The PUL is a removable orthodontic appliance that helps to enlarge the upper jaw (maxilla) when it's too narrow and, at the same time, to advance the lower jaw when it's too far back.
It is usually worn for a few months and can be used in conjunction with other orthodontic appliances, such as braces.
-
DELAIRE MASK
The Delaire mask is an orthodontic appliance used to correct the position of the upper jaw (maxilla) when it is too far back in relation to the lower jaw.
It is particularly useful for children whose upper jaw is too small, or who are stunted in their growth.
The Delaire mask is often used in conjunction with the circuit breaker (see fixed device).