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Early Orthodontic Treatment

Give your child the best start with a healthy, confident smile. A quick assessment from around age 7 helps us guide jaw growth, create space for incoming adult teeth, and—when needed—step in early to prevent bigger problems later.

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Free initial consult in Liverpool, NSW

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Specialist orthodontists for children and teens

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Family friendly payment options

Outcomes Snapshot

Guide jaw growth

Guide jaw growth for balanced facial development

Create space for adult teeth

Create space so adult teeth erupt in better positions

Reduce future treatment time

Lower the chance of extractions in the teenage years

Lower risk of extractions

Shorten and simplify future treatment with braces or aligners

Why age 7 matters

Around age 7, your child has a mix of baby and adult teeth. A short visit lets us check bite, crowding and jaw growth. If everything is on track, we’ll simply schedule review visits. If we see something developing, we can plan gentle interceptive treatment to guide growth and reduce future complexity.

Good to know: An early check does not mean your child will get braces right away. The goal is the right treatment at the right time.

Signs your child may benefit from early treatment

  • Early or late loss of baby teeth
  • Crowded or overlapping front teeth (around ages 7–9)
  • Crossbite, underbite or open bite
  • Protruding front teeth (risk of knocks/chips)
  • Mouth breathing or snoring
  • Thumb or finger sucking after age 5
  • Difficulty chewing, or speech lisp
  • Jaw shifting to one side when biting

Unsure? Bring your child in for a friendly, no pressure check.

What to expect at Liverpool Orthodontics

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First visit (30–45 minutes, free)

We assess teeth, bite and jaw growth, answer your questions and outline next steps.

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Records & personalised plan

If early care could help, we’ll take photos, 3D scans or X rays and design a plan tailored to your child.

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Gentle interceptive phase

Examples include expanders, space maintainers or short phases of partial braces. We’ll show you exactly how they work and how to care for them.

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Review and long term plan

Many children shift back to monitoring. If a second phase is needed later (teens), it’s usually shorter and simpler.

Common Early Appliances

Palatal expander

Widens the upper jaw to correct crossbite and make space for adult teeth. Typically worn for a few months.

Space maintainer

Holds space open when a baby tooth is lost early so the adult tooth can erupt correctly.

Habit appliance

Helps stop persistent thumb or finger sucking to protect teeth and bite.

Functional appliance

Guides jaw growth in some overbite/underbite patterns while a child is still growing.

Partial braces or limited aligners

Straighten or protect specific teeth that are at higher risk or affecting the bite.

Monitoring without treatment

For many kids, the best plan is simply to wait and watch with 6–12 month reviews. This ensures we start comprehensive treatment at the ideal time—often resulting in shorter treatment and fewer extractions.

Costs & health funds

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Initial consult:

Free

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Treatment fees:

Customised to your child’s needs and appliance type

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Health funds & payment options

We can provide item codes for you to check rebates; flexible payment options available.

Meet your orthodontists

Dr Eva Low

Specialist Orthodontist with extensive experience in early and complex cases.

Dr Priyanka Ponna

Dr Priyanka Ponna

Specialist Orthodontist with a caring, child friendly approach.

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the best age for the first orthodontic visit?

Around age 7, when adult teeth start to appear. Earlier checks are fine if you notice concerns.

Does an age 7 check mean we need braces now?

Not usually. Many children only need monitoring until their teens.

How long does early treatment take?

Interceptive phases are typically months rather than years, depending on the appliance and growth.

Are early appliances comfortable?

There’s an adjustment period. We’ll show you easy cleaning and comfort tips; most kids adapt quickly.

How much does it cost?

Fees vary by appliance. We’ll provide a written quote and item codes so you can check health fund rebates.

Do we still see our family dentist?

Yes. Regular dental check ups and cleans are important during any orthodontic treatment.

Contact Us

Give your child the best start with a healthy smile.