Orthodontics is the branch of dentistry concerned with prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of malocclusions of the teeth and facial bones.

In our practices of Turin and Neive, our orthodontic specialists use the most advanced technologies now available to offer the following treatments: fixed braces with brackets, children’s orthodontics, lingual orthodontics, and invisible braces (Invisalign).

The need for orthodontic treatment may vary depending on the age and development of the child. Since an individual’s teeth are constantly changing and evolving, orthodontic assessments should be repeated at regular intervals.

It is advisable to take a child for an orthodontic check-up if the following conditions are present:

• early or late loss of baby teeth;

• respiratory problems;

• finger sucking or other incorrect oral habits;

• dental crowding (malpositioned teeth);

• jaw deviation on closing;

• protruding teeth;

• masticatory trauma of the cheeks and palate;

• teeth locking or grinding;

• noises in the articulation of the jaw.

The first orthodontic check-up should occur between the age of 3 and 6, when all the baby teeth are still in the mouth. The purpose is to “intercept” any teeth and jaw disharmonies which, unless corrected during growth, might be difficult to fix at a later stage. A check-up at an early age is also extremely important to assess the general state of health of the teeth and to verify the correctness of oral hygiene procedures.

Early orthodontic treatment can improve the situation but it might not be enough to solve problems completely. In this case, it might be necessary to plan later and more complex treatments to provide final correction of the permanent teeth (after the age of 12).