Orthodontics For Children
Early Orthodontic Assessments
Because every child deserves the best start to a healthy smile.
At Apex Orthodontics, Specialist Orthodontist Dr Gwengo is passionate about helping children achieve healthy smiles and supporting families throughout their orthodontic journey. That’s why we follow the recommendations of the Australian Society of Orthodontists, which advises that every child should have their first orthodontic assessment by age 7.
For families across Helensvale, Hope Island, Coomera, Upper Coomera, Oxenford, Pacific Pines, Maudsland, Gaven, Arundel, Southport, Labrador, Biggera Waters, Runaway Bay, Paradise Point, and surrounding Gold Coast suburbs, an early orthodontic evaluation provides valuable insight into your child’s dental and facial development.
Why Early Assessment Matters
Around age 7, children have a mix of baby and adult teeth, and their jaws are still growing. At this stage, Dr Gwengo can detect early signs of potential problems and determine the best time to begin treatment—if treatment is needed at all.
In fact, in most cases, no early treatment is necessary, and we simply place your child into our Growth Guidance Recall Program. In this program, we monitor your child’s jaw growth and tooth eruption every 6 to 12 months—at no additional cost—to ensure we begin treatment at exactly the right time.
But in the small percentage of children who do need early care (around 5–10%), interceptive treatment can prevent much more serious issues later—sometimes even avoiding the need for surgery or extractions in the future.
What Dr Gwengo Looks for at Age 7
Dr Gwengo carefully assesses your child’s growth and smile for conditions that may benefit from early care:
Crossbites
Severe Crowding
Impacted Teeth
Sucking Habits
Teeth Protrud
Speech Issues
Children Teased
Recommends Early Treatment
In many cases, early treatment may be as simple as monitoring or guiding the eruption of permanent teeth—or using small appliances, not full braces. Dr Gwengo only recommends early treatment when it’s truly in your child’s best interest.
The Purpose of Interceptive Treatment
Early orthodontic treatment is not about perfect alignment—it’s about supporting proper development and creating a strong foundation for the adult teeth and jaws.
Goals of interceptive treatment may include:
What Happens If My Child Doesn’t Need Early Treatment?
Great news—most children don’t! In this case, Dr Gwengo will continue to monitor your child’s development through our Growth Guidance Recall Program, making sure treatment begins only when it’s truly needed. This approach ensures:
Dr Gwengo’s goal is simple: start treatment at the right time—not too early, not too late—to achieve the best outcome with the least time, cost, and disruption for your child.
When Is the Best Age for Braces?
If early treatment isn’t needed, we typically begin braces or aligner treatment when:
Permanent Teeth
Peak Growth Phase
Treating your child during this growth window can help correct jaw position, avoid future complications, and improve both function and appearance
Supporting Families Every Step of the Way
We understand that raising a family comes with many decisions—and many expenses. That’s why Dr Gwengo is committed to making orthodontic care as clear, thoughtful, and affordable as possible. He takes the time to explain every option, ensures that treatment is never rushed or unnecessary, and partners with parents to make the best decisions for their child’s health and happiness.
If your child is around age 7, now is the perfect time to schedule an orthodontic evaluation.
Ready for your child’s first orthodontic check-up?
At Apex Orthodontics, Dr Gwengo provides comprehensive children’s orthodontic assessments on the Gold Coast, helping families from Helensvale, Coomera, Hope Island, Pacific Pines, Oxenford, Southport, Runaway Bay, Paradise Point, and surrounding areas make informed decisions about their child’s oral health and development.
Book your child’s orthodontic consultation today and give them the best opportunity for a healthy, confident smile.
