Leading Perth Orthodontist Makes Kids Smile with Invisalign's New Treatment Offering

PERTH, Australia, May 14, 2019 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Children in Western Australia won't be able to stop smiling thanks to new Invisalign orthodontics treatment on offer at specialist orthodontic clinic, Class 1 Orthodontics.

The leading Perth clinic, which has practices in Canning Vale, Rockingham, Baldivis, Kalgoorlie and West Busselton, is headed up by specialist orthodontist Dr Chris Orloff. The orthodontic clinic now offers primary school-aged children Invisalign First, a discreet orthodontic treatment method designed specifically for children aged 6 to 10.

Based on the Invisalign system, a series of virtually invisible orthodontic aligners designed to straighten teeth faster than traditional braces, Invisalign First is proving as popular as the system's earlier models for teens and adults.

The aligners, custom-made for children who have a mixture of baby and permanent adult teeth, are made from clear, medical grade plastic and sit over a child's teeth like a thin sports mouthguard. These aligners can be removed for meal times and cleaning routines, ensuring children's teeth stay in optimal condition throughout treatment.

Dr Chris Orloff, head orthodontist at Class 1 Orthodontics, says early orthodontic treatment is essential for children at primary school, but many children – and their parents – are often apprehensive about what's involved.

"The Australian Society of Orthodontists (ASO) recommends all children have an early orthodontic consultation between the ages of 7 and 11, and we endorse this recommendation," Dr Orloff says. "Taking a proactive approach to a child's orthodontic treatment can reduce the severity and extent of treatment required at a later stage and Invisalign First enables us to design treatment to suit every child."

Dr Orloff says when children's teeth start to move, the beginning of treatment is traditionally done through arch expanders, or partial metal braces, before all permanent teeth have erupted. "Invisalign First treatment takes a new approach to early intervention, centered on the proven technology, comfort and convenience patients have come to know and expect from the Invisalign system," he says.

"Whether we are straightening the teeth, correcting a crossbite, an overbite or underbite or a combination of these treatments, this can all be designed to occur at the same time with Invisalign First aligners," Dr Orloff says. "Prior to this it would take an appliance to achieve each of these objectives."

Dr Orloff says when using the Invisalign First system, the Class 1 Orthodontics team operating in six different orthodontic practices across Western Australia, including West Perth, Canning Vale, Rockingham, Baldivis, Kalgoorlie and West Busselton, is often treating young kids to improve their self-esteem. "Correcting misaligned teeth can reduce teasing and improve a child's speech patterns, yet traditional orthodontics were bulky and actually made speech patterns worse or led to embarrassment. Invisalign First is a more discreet appliance, and is easier and more comfortable to wear, thus reducing anxiety for kids and helping to improve their self-confidence and speech."

Customised to a child's mouth, Invisalign First aligners are comfortable to wear ensuring a positive orthodontic experience and can be used to help crowding and erupting teeth, bite issues, spacing or gaps between teeth, protruding front teeth that increase risk of trauma and injury, plus teeth and jaw misalignment.

Compared to traditional metal braces, the benefits include being able to remove aligners when at meal times, meaning there are no food restrictions. Teeth are easier to clean to maintain better oral hygiene and there are no restrictions when it comes to playing sport.

Dr Orloff says one of the most common questions he gets asked by parents of young patients is how they can keep track of their child's treatment. "Invisalign has thought of that and has given us the option of building a blue compliance indicator into each aligner which indicates wear over time. Over 85% of orthodontists say their younger patients stick to their plan."

However, Dr Orloff says the biggest benefit of Invisalign First aligners is that they help build confidence in a child. Ian Campbell's eight-year-old daughter recently started wearing an Invisalign First aligner because of gaps and teeth growing out of place. He says the experience has been much easier and less painful than traditional metal braces – on both sides.

"This is about 90% care-free," says Ian. "She can take it out to eat, which helps a lot, and food doesn't get stuck. People have barely noticed she even has anything in her mouth because the aligners are almost invisible. It has been a more pleasant experience for her and certainly with no real pain. The whole process, compared to our other child who had traditional braces, has been a lot less invasive."

Class 1 Orthodontics can identify if young patients are susceptible to any orthodontic problems or if any are developing. "Orthodontic treatment at an early age is really beneficial because children's jaws are still malleable, which enables us to get great results from treatment," Dr Orloff says.

"Invisalign First aligners are a great pre-treatment to help prepare a child's teeth and jaws for any subsequent orthodontic treatment, while also reducing the extent of treatment they may require during their teenage years. What's more, a dentist referral isn't required so we encourage any parent who has concerns about their child's teeth or jaw development to bring them into Class 1 Orthodontics for an early consultation."

SOURCE Class 1 Orthodontics

Related Links

http://www.class1ortho.com.au