Orthodontics for Children & Adults in Kitchener
Orthodontic treatment corrects misaligned teeth and bite irregularities, supporting comfortable chewing, easier oral hygiene and a more confident smile. Children, teens and adults can all benefit from an evaluation when there are concerns about tooth alignment, bite or jaw development.
At Westheights Dental Centre in Kitchener-Waterloo, Dr. Ghada Al-Shurafa provides orthodontic assessments and treatment for patients at every stage of life, including early orthodontic care, functional appliances, traditional braces and clear aligners.
Our goal is to understand how your teeth and bite are developing and recommend treatment when it offers a meaningful benefit.
Children's Orthodontics
A child's smile changes as baby teeth are replaced by permanent teeth and the jaws continue to grow. Monitoring this development helps identify orthodontic concerns at the appropriate stage.
We recommend an orthodontic assessment if your child has:
- Crowded or overlapping teeth
- Large spaces between teeth
- An overbite, underbite or crossbite
- Difficulty biting or chewing
- Teeth erupting in an unusual position
- Early or delayed loss of baby teeth
- A narrow dental arch
- Jaw or bite irregularities
- Oral habits affecting dental development
An early assessment does not mean your child will automatically need braces. In some cases, the best approach is to monitor growth and wait until the timing is right for treatment.
Functional Orthodontics for Children
Functional orthodontics looks beyond the appearance of individual teeth. It considers the relationship between the teeth, jaws, bite, dental arches and overall oral development.
Because children are still growing, certain orthodontic concerns can be addressed during the developmental years. Functional appliances may be recommended in selected cases to help guide dental and jaw development.
Depending on your child's individual situation, functional orthodontic care may help:
- Address certain bite irregularities
- Improve upper and lower tooth relationship
- Create or preserve space for permanent teeth
- Address dental arch-development concerns
- Guide developing teeth into position
- Address oral habits affecting development
Functional orthodontics is not appropriate for every child. Dr. Al-Shurafa evaluates your child's teeth, bite, growth and dental development before recommending an appliance or treatment.
Signs Your Child May Need an Orthodontic Evaluation
Parents are often the first to notice changes in their child's smile. Consider arranging an orthodontic assessment if you notice:
- Teeth that are crowded or overlapping
- Permanent teeth erupting behind baby teeth
- Significant gaps between teeth
- An overbite, underbite or crossbite
- Difficulty biting or chewing
- Teeth that do not meet evenly
- Unusual jaw movement
- Clicking or popping around the jaw
- Persistent mouth breathing
- Early or delayed loss of baby teeth
These signs do not necessarily mean orthodontic treatment is required. An examination can determine whether treatment is needed, whether development should be monitored, or whether another dental assessment is appropriate.
When Should a Child Have an Orthodontic Assessment?
An orthodontic assessment around age seven can provide useful information about a child's developing teeth and jaws. At this stage, children typically have a combination of primary and permanent teeth, which allows many developing concerns to be identified.
An early evaluation does not mean treatment must begin immediately.
Some children benefit from early intervention, while others need only periodic monitoring until more permanent teeth erupt. The appropriate timing depends on the child's individual development.
Early Orthodontic Treatment
When early treatment is recommended, the purpose is usually to address a specific developmental or bite concern rather than to straighten every tooth.
Depending on the child, early treatment may focus on:
- Creating space for permanent teeth
- Improving certain bite relationships
- Addressing dental arch development
- Guiding eruption of permanent teeth
- Addressing selected oral habits
- Improving teeth and jaw relationship
Early treatment can make later orthodontic treatment more straightforward in some cases, although every child responds differently and future treatment needs cannot always be predicted.
Two-Phase Orthodontic Treatment
Some children benefit from orthodontic treatment delivered in two stages.
Phase One: Early Orthodontic Care
The first phase takes place while the child is still growing. Treatment may address a specific bite, spacing, eruption or developmental concern.
Functional appliances or other orthodontic devices may be used when appropriate.
After the first phase, we monitor your child's development while the remaining permanent teeth erupt.
Phase Two: Comprehensive Orthodontic Treatment
Once most permanent teeth have erupted, some children benefit from a second phase of orthodontic treatment.
This phase focuses on detailed tooth alignment and bite correction and may involve braces, clear aligners or another orthodontic system.
Not every child requires two phases. Dr. Al-Shurafa recommends treatment based on your child's individual development and orthodontic needs.
Orthodontics for Teenagers
The teenage years are a common time for comprehensive orthodontic treatment because most permanent teeth have erupted and the bite can be evaluated in detail.
Teenagers may benefit from orthodontic treatment to address:
- Crowding
- Spacing
- Crooked or rotated teeth
- Overbites
- Underbites
- Crossbites
- Uneven tooth alignment
- Other bite concerns
Depending on the individual case, treatment may involve traditional braces or clear aligners.
Good oral hygiene is especially important while wearing braces or orthodontic appliances. Regular dental examinations and proper brushing and cleaning protect the teeth and gums throughout treatment.
Adult Orthodontics in Kitchener
Orthodontic treatment is not limited to children and teenagers. Many adults choose orthodontic care to improve the appearance, alignment or function of their smile.
Adults may seek orthodontic treatment because their teeth have always been crooked, their teeth have shifted over time, or they want to improve their smile without relying solely on cosmetic dental restorations.
Adult orthodontics may address:
- Crowded teeth
- Gaps between teeth
- Crooked teeth
- Rotated teeth
- Overbites
- Underbites
- Crossbites
- Uneven tooth alignment
- Teeth shifted after prior orthodontic treatment
Before beginning treatment, we assess adult patients' overall oral health. Gum health, existing fillings, crowns, bridges, missing teeth, bone support and previous dental treatment can all influence the orthodontic treatment plan.
Clear Aligners for Teens and Adults
Clear aligners are an option for selected teenagers and adults who want a more discreet way to improve the alignment of their teeth.
The removable trays gradually move teeth according to a customized treatment plan. They can generally be removed for eating, brushing and flossing.
Clear aligners are not appropriate for every orthodontic problem. Dr. Al-Shurafa evaluates your teeth and bite to determine whether clear aligners or another treatment approach is suitable for you.
Functional Orthodontics and Jaw Development
Functional orthodontics focuses on how the teeth, jaws, bite and dental arches work together.
This approach is particularly relevant for growing children, whose jaws and facial structures are still developing. In selected cases, functional appliances may be used to address developmental or bite concerns.
Symptoms such as jaw discomfort, clicking, difficulty chewing or unusual jaw movement can have many causes and should not automatically be assumed to be orthodontic in origin.
A comprehensive assessment determines whether an orthodontic issue is present and whether treatment is appropriate.
Orthodontic Treatment for Adults With Existing Dental Work
Adults often have a history of dental treatment that must be considered before orthodontics begins.
Fillings, crowns, bridges, implants, missing teeth, gum disease and other dental conditions can affect how orthodontic treatment is planned.
For this reason, an adult orthodontic consultation considers the health of the entire mouth rather than tooth position alone.
What Happens During an Orthodontic Consultation?
Your orthodontic consultation begins with a detailed assessment of your individual needs.
Depending on your situation, the evaluation may include:
- Examination of the teeth and gums
- Assessment of your bite
- Evaluation of crowding and spacing
- Review of jaw and dental development
- Dental photographs
- X-rays when clinically indicated
- Discussion of your concerns and goals
For children, we consider their age, growth and stage of dental development.
For adults, we also consider existing dental work and overall oral health.
Once the assessment is complete, Dr. Al-Shurafa explains the findings and discusses whether treatment or continued monitoring is appropriate.
How Long Does Orthodontic Treatment Take?
Treatment time varies from patient to patient.
The length of orthodontic treatment can depend on:
- Complexity of the orthodontic concern
- Amount of tooth movement required
- Patient's age and stage of development
- Treatment method selected
- Consistency following treatment instructions
Early orthodontic treatment for a growing child may follow a different timeline from comprehensive treatment for a teenager or clear aligner treatment for an adult, which can range from 6 to 18 months.
We discuss your individual treatment timeline after your assessment.
Caring for Your Teeth During Orthodontic Treatment
Good oral hygiene matters for everyone, and it becomes especially important when braces or orthodontic appliances are present.
Patients should:
- Brush carefully around brackets and appliances
- Clean between the teeth every day
- Follow cleaning instructions from the dental team
- Avoid foods that may damage braces or appliances
- Attend recommended examinations and cleanings
- Follow instructions for appliance or aligner wear
Keeping the teeth and gums healthy throughout orthodontic treatment is an important part of achieving a successful result.
Can Children and Adults Play Sports During Orthodontic Treatment?
In most cases, patients can continue participating in sports while undergoing orthodontic treatment.
For children and teenagers in contact sports, an orthodontic mouthguard provides additional protection for the teeth, gums and orthodontic appliances.
Ask our dental team about the appropriate mouthguard for your specific orthodontic treatment.
Retainers After Orthodontic Treatment
Finishing active orthodontic treatment is not the end of the process. Teeth can shift naturally over time, which is why retainers are an important part of maintaining orthodontic results.
We explain how and when to wear your retainer and how to care for it.
Following your retention instructions helps maintain the position of your teeth after treatment.
Orthodontic Care for the Whole Family
Every patient has different orthodontic needs.
A young child may benefit from an early assessment or functional orthodontic treatment. A teenager may need comprehensive orthodontic correction, while an adult may be addressing crowding, spacing, or changes that have developed over the years.
Dr. Ghada Al-Shurafa takes a comprehensive approach to orthodontic care, considering each patient's age, dental development, oral health, bite and individual goals when recommending treatment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can adults receive orthodontic treatment?+
Yes. Adults can often benefit from orthodontic treatment. The appropriate approach depends on tooth alignment, bite, gum and bone health, existing dental work, and the complexity of the case.
What is functional orthodontics?+
Functional orthodontics considers the relationship between the teeth, dental arches, bite and jaws. In growing children, functional appliances may be used in selected cases to address developmental or bite concerns.
What age should my child have an orthodontic assessment?+
An assessment around age seven can help identify developing orthodontic concerns. Children can also be evaluated earlier or later depending on their individual dental development.
Does an early orthodontic assessment mean my child needs braces?+
No. An early evaluation may lead to monitoring and periodic reassessment rather than immediate treatment. We recommend treatment only when there is a clear reason for intervention.
Does every child need two phases of orthodontic treatment?+
No. Some children benefit from early treatment followed by comprehensive orthodontics, while others need only one phase or no orthodontic treatment at all.
Is Invisalign® available for adults and teenagers?+
Clear aligners may be appropriate for selected adults and teenagers. Suitability depends on the individual's orthodontic concerns and their ability to follow the treatment plan.
Are braces uncomfortable?+
Some pressure or temporary tenderness can occur when braces or orthodontic appliances are placed or adjusted. This typically improves within a few days as the patient adjusts to treatment.
Can my child play sports with braces?+
Yes. Children can generally continue playing sports while wearing braces. A properly fitted orthodontic mouthguard provides additional protection during contact sports.
How long will orthodontic treatment take?+
Treatment time depends on the patient's age, orthodontic concerns, treatment method, and individual response to treatment. We provide a specific estimate after your assessment.
Can orthodontic treatment improve more than the appearance of my smile?+
Yes. Orthodontic treatment can address tooth alignment and certain bite problems in addition to improving appearance. The specific benefits depend on your individual orthodontic condition.
Start Your Orthodontic Journey in Kitchener
Whether you are concerned about your child's developing teeth, your teenager's bite, or your own smile, an orthodontic assessment is a helpful first step.
Dr. Ghada Al-Shurafa can evaluate your teeth and bite, discuss your goals and help determine whether early orthodontic care, functional orthodontics, braces, clear aligners or monitoring is appropriate.
Schedule an orthodontic consultation with Westheights Dental Centre for your child, teenager or yourself in Kitchener.