Children’s Orthodontics
Setting The Foundation For A Lifetime of Healthy Teeth
At Smile Studio Ashford, we create beautiful, confident smiles that last a lifetime! Our orthodontic services are tailored to meet the unique needs of each patient, utilising cutting-edge techniques and personalised care to achieve exceptional results. We provide specific orthodontic braces which are used to correct malocclusions (distorted bites), narrow arches, as well as protruding teeth and a variety of other problems of the teeth and jaws.
Dr Biju Krishnan has a special interest in early interceptive orthodontics, which focuses on facial development and proper breathing in children. Evidence shows there are many benefits to early orthodontic intervention for children, which focuses on assessing and addressing dental and jaw development issues in young patients. The aim is to improve oral health, correct bite problems, and guide the growth of the jaw to prevent more severe issues later in life, and reducing the chance of painful future extractions.
We work closely with paediatric dentists and other healthcare professionals such as cranial osteopaths to identify signs of misalignment, overcrowding, or irregularities in the early stages of your child’s facial and dental development. Through various treatments like braces, retainers, or other orthodontic appliances, we aim to correct these issues while your child’s jaw is still growing and more easily influenced.
Should I consider early intervention orthodontics for my child?
You should have your child assessed by a specialist child orthodontist if they:
- Breathe through their mouth, often leaving it hanging open.
- Had a late thumb-sucking habit (after age 4 years)
- Have speech problems – these can often be related to the tongue & development of the jaw
- Have protruding front teeth, upper or lower.
- Have a crossbite – the bottom teeth set in front and overlap the upper teeth, or the chin is more prominent.
- Have overcrowded teeth, or if adult teeth are erupting behind or in front of baby teeth, causing two rows of teeth.
Our orthodontic team can identify issues with the jaws and teeth, and offer the best solutions to rectify these, to assist in development of their structure so that a good framework is in place as the teeth develop.
Treating your child’s teeth with early orthodontics can lay the building blocks for stronger future health, sculpting your child’s dental development with precision and care. It allows detect subtle issues to be detected earlier, correcting them before they become bigger concerns. By addressing misalignments, overcrowding, or irregularities while your child’s jaw is still growing, they pave the way for a harmonious, healthy smile.
But it’s not just about straightening teeth; it’s about setting your child up for a future free from oral discomfort and potential health issues. At Smile Studio Ashford we partner with you, educating and empowering both you and your child about the significance of proper oral hygiene, particularly with orthodontic appliances, and making correct dental care an integral part of their routine.
Investing in your child’s dental health now means fewer worries later. It’s about giving them the confidence to laugh, speak, and eat without hesitation. It’s about instilling habits that ensure a brighter, healthier future.
So, parents, consider the gift of early intervention child orthodontics—a gift that keeps on giving. Nurture that precious smile today for a lifetime of confident, beaming tomorrows.
MEET THE ORTHODONTIST
DR BIJU KRISHNAN
Dr Biju Krishnan was first introduced to early interceptive orthodontics in 1994 by Dr SKip Truitt, a pioneer of treating children early to help optimise growth and development, to improve airway function and avoid the need for orthdontic extractions.
Since then, he has undertaken extensive training in treating children while they are still growing and still in their primary and mixed dentition.
He has trained with and worked alongside acclaimed educators such as Dr Skip Truitt, Dr Derek Mahoney, Dr Patrick Grossman amongst others.
Early Interceptive and Orthopaedic Orthodontics
Dr Biju Krishnan has undertaken extensive training in treating children while they are still growing and still have their first set of teeth present.
This type of orthodontic treatment is known by several terms such as:
- Early Interceptive Orthodontics
- Functional Orthodontics
- Myofunctional Orthodontics
- Orthopaedic Orthodontics
- Dentofacial Orthopaedics
- Orthotropics
Traditional orthodontics like braces focus mainly on straightening the teeth, whereas early interceptive orthodontic techniques not only straighten teeth, but they also help to guide facial development through the use of functional appliances and help promote correct nasal breathing and swallowing patterns.
From as early as age 4 or 5, it is possible to detect how a child’s face is growing, and early treatment can help address issues such as:
- Narrow jaws
- Crowded teeth
- Underdeveloped jaws
- Breathing/airway problems
- Bite problems
- Deep overbites
- Thumb/finger sucking habits
- Jaw joint problems
Treatment is usually divided into 2 phases
Phase 1:
This is ideally carried out during the growth of the child and is aimed at encouraging the jaws to grow to their optimum size and position. Not just to allow enough room for the adult teeth to come into the mouth, but the following advantages have also been reported:
- An improved profile
- Helps children with breathing through the nose instead of through the mouth
- Improved speech
- Relief from chronic migraines, and neck and shoulder pain
- Improved quality of sleep
- Eases jaw joint (TMJ) symptoms
- Promotes better hearing
Phase 2:
This phase is usually carried out following Phase 1 once all the adult teeth have come into the mouth and is involved with straightening the teeth, usually with fixed braces or aligners. If the jaw’s have been fully developed and are in the correct relationship, which Phase 1 aims to achieve, then Phase 2 treatment almost always avoids the need for having teeth taken out to create space.
During Phase 1 treatment, Dr Krishnan works closely with specially trained Cranial Osteopaths and Myofunctional Speech therapists to maximise the effects of treatment in developing the jaws and face to reach their ideal potential.
Dr Biju is also one of the UK’s few practitioners who work with the Myobrace® system. This Myobrace® system is designed to deal with incorrect myofunctional habits by teaching children to breathe through their nose, rest the tongue correctly in the roof of the mouth, swallow correctly and continue widening the jaws so they grow to their full and proper size. This results in sufficient room for the teeth, allowing them to come in naturally straight and often without the need for braces.
FEES
We create individual treatment plans as unique as our patients
Due to the nature of our work being highly individually tailored to each patient, the treatment price will naturally depend on how complicated each case is, and the resultant duration of treatment. There is no set period of treatment time, although typically the first phase can last between 12-18 months.
Following an initial orthodontic consultation, assessing your case both clinically and radiographically, Dr Biju will give you a detailed treatment plan, often arranging a video consultation at your convenience in order to fully explain the different aspects of treatment, and accurately setting out your route towards achieving the desired final outcome. Our fees will be entirely transparent at all times: all fees and appointment requirements are discussed prior to commencement of treatment.
To provide you with a treatment plan an initial consultation with our orthodontic consultants is carried out. This includes a detailed and thorough orthodontic diagnosis and treatment planning including the taking of clinical photographs, impressions for study models and full radiographic analysis of teeth and face.
Finance options are available, and these can be discussed once treatment has been finalised.
We Offer:
- Ceramic, aesthetic, and tooth-coloured fixed braces
- Specialist orthodontic care for children from the age of 7
- Specialist orthodontic care for teenagers
- Specialist orthodontic care for adults, including seniors!
- Invisalign for young children, teenagers & adults
- Aesthetic and invisible braces
- Metal and low-profile fixed braces
- Lingual (behind the teeth) braces
- Removable & Functional appliances or braces
- Removable and fixed retainers
- Hygienist procedures & teeth cleaning services