Orthodontics for Children & Adults in Kitchener
A healthy, well-aligned smile can support comfortable chewing, easier oral hygiene, and greater confidence at any age. Orthodontic care is not just for teenagers. Children, teens, and adults can all benefit from an evaluation when there are concerns about tooth alignment, the bite, or jaw development.
At Westheights Dental Centre, Dr. Ghada Al-Shurafa provides orthodontic assessments and treatment for patients at different stages of life. Depending on your individual needs, treatment may include early orthodontic care, functional orthodontic appliances, traditional braces, or clear aligners.
Our goal is to understand how your teeth and bite are developing and recommend treatment when it can provide 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 can help identify orthodontic concerns at an appropriate stage.
An orthodontic assessment may be recommended 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
- Persistent oral habits that may affect dental development
An early assessment does not mean that 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 may be addressed during the developmental years when appropriate. Functional orthodontic appliances may be recommended in selected cases to help influence dental and jaw development.
Depending on your child's individual situation, functional orthodontic care may help:
- Address certain bite irregularities
- Improve the relationship between the upper and lower teeth
- Create or preserve space for permanent teeth
- Address selected dental arch-development concerns
- Guide developing teeth into a more favourable position
- Address certain oral habits that can affect dental development
Functional orthodontics is not appropriate for every child. Dr. Al-Shurafa will evaluate 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. You may want to arrange an orthodontic assessment if you notice:
- Teeth that are crowded or overlapping
- Permanent teeth erupting behind or in front of 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 that orthodontic treatment is required. An examination can help 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 generally have a combination of primary and permanent teeth, allowing many developing orthodontic concerns to be identified.
An early evaluation does not mean treatment must begin immediately.
Some children benefit from early intervention, while others simply need 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 simply straighten all of the teeth.
Depending on the child, early treatment may focus on:
- Creating space for permanent teeth
- Improving certain bite relationships
- Addressing dental arch development
- Guiding the eruption of permanent teeth
- Addressing selected oral habits
- Improving the relationship between the teeth and jaws
Early treatment may make later orthodontic treatment more straightforward in some cases, although every child responds differently and future treatment cannot always be predicted.
Two-Phase Orthodontic Treatment
Some children benefit from orthodontic treatment 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, your child's development may be monitored while the remaining permanent teeth erupt.
Phase Two: Comprehensive Orthodontic Treatment
Once most permanent teeth have erupted, some children may 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 will recommend 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 greater 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 can help protect the teeth and gums during 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 they have always had crooked teeth, 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 that have shifted after previous orthodontic treatment
Before beginning treatment, adult patients should have their overall oral health assessed. Gum health, existing fillings, crowns, bridges, missing teeth, bone support, and previous dental treatment may all influence the orthodontic treatment plan.
Clear Aligners for Teens and Adults
Clear aligners can be an option for selected teenagers and adults who want a more discreet way to improve the alignment of their teeth.
The removable trays are designed to 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 can evaluate your teeth and bite and determine whether clear aligners or another treatment approach is suitable for you.
Functional Orthodontics and Jaw Development
Functional orthodontics places attention on how the teeth, jaws, bite, and dental arches work together.
This approach can be particularly relevant when evaluating growing children because the jaws and facial structures are still developing. In selected cases, functional appliances may be used to address certain developmental or bite concerns.
Symptoms such as jaw discomfort, clicking, difficulty chewing, or unusual jaw movement can have many different causes. They should not automatically be assumed to be orthodontic in origin.
A comprehensive assessment is important to determine whether an orthodontic issue is present and whether treatment may be appropriate.
Orthodontic Treatment for Adults With Existing Dental Work
Adults often have a history of dental treatment that needs to be considered before orthodontics begins.
Fillings, crowns, bridges, implants, missing teeth, gum disease, and other dental conditions may affect how orthodontic treatment is planned.
For this reason, an adult orthodontic consultation should consider the health of the entire mouth rather than looking only at the position of the teeth.
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 or other diagnostic records when indicated
- Discussion of your concerns and treatment 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 can explain the findings and discuss 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:
- The complexity of the orthodontic concern
- The amount of tooth movement required
- The patient's age and stage of development
- The treatment method selected
- How consistently treatment instructions are followed
Early orthodontic treatment for a growing child may have a different timeline from comprehensive treatment for a teenager or clear aligner treatment for an adult.
Your individual treatment timeline can be discussed after your assessment.
Caring for Your Teeth During Orthodontic Treatment
Good oral hygiene is important for everyone, but 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 the cleaning instructions provided by the dental team.
- Avoid foods that may damage braces or appliances.
- Attend recommended dental examinations and cleanings.
- Follow instructions regarding 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 involved in contact sports, an orthodontic mouthguard can provide additional protection for the teeth, gums, and orthodontic appliances.
Ask our dental team about the appropriate type of mouthguard for your specific orthodontic treatment.
Retainers After Orthodontic Treatment
Finishing active orthodontic treatment is not the end of the process. Teeth can naturally move over time, which is why retainers are an important part of maintaining orthodontic results.
Your dental team will explain how and when to wear your retainer and how to care for it.
Following your retention instructions can help 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 looking to address crowding, spacing, or changes that have occurred over the years.
Dr. Ghada Al-Shurafa takes a comprehensive approach to orthodontic care and considers the patient's age, dental development, oral health, bite, and individual goals when discussing treatment.
Frequently Asked Questions About Orthodontics
Can adults receive orthodontic treatment?+
Yes. Adults can often benefit from orthodontic treatment. The appropriate treatment depends on the alignment of the teeth, bite, gum and bone health, existing dental work, and 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 certain developmental or bite concerns.
What age should my child have an orthodontic assessment?+
An assessment around age seven can help identify developing orthodontic concerns. However, children can be evaluated earlier or later depending on their dental development and individual circumstances.
Does an early orthodontic assessment mean my child needs braces?+
No. An early evaluation may simply lead to monitoring and periodic assessments. Treatment is recommended only when there is an identified reason for intervention.
Does every child need two phases of orthodontic treatment?+
No. Some children may benefit from early treatment followed by comprehensive orthodontics, while others may need only one phase or may not require orthodontic treatment.
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 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 generally improves as the patient becomes accustomed to treatment.
Can my child play sports with braces?+
Yes. Children can generally participate in sports while wearing braces. A properly fitted orthodontic mouthguard can provide 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. A more specific estimate can be provided following an assessment.
Can orthodontic treatment improve more than the appearance of my smile?+
Orthodontic treatment can address tooth alignment and certain bite problems as well as improve the appearance of the smile. The specific benefits depend on the patient's 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 may be appropriate.
Contact Westheights Dental Centre to schedule an orthodontic consultation for your child, teenager, or yourself in Kitchener.