– Children's orthodontics in Auckland
Looking after young smiles is what we love most. We see children from around age seven for a first check, and a lot of the time the best advice is simply to watch and let things grow. When early treatment does help, our specialist guides it gently and only when it is clearly worthwhile.
First check from around age 7. No referral needed.
Founded and led by specialist orthodontist Dr Shahrzad MacAvoy. Your child's care is always with a registered specialist orthodontist.
When should my child first see an orthodontist?
From around age seven. By then a few adult teeth have come through, so we can spot anything that may need guiding while there is still plenty of growth to work with. It is about timing, not rushing.
A gentle first look
A relaxed check to see how the teeth and jaws are developing. Nothing invasive, and nothing scary for your child.
Often, we just watch
Most children need no treatment yet. We give you a plan and a review date, and keep an eye on things as they grow.
Treat only when it helps
If acting early makes later treatment simpler or prevents a problem worsening, we will say so. If not, we wait.
What early treatment can help with
A handful of things are easier to guide while a child is still growing. The most common are:
Bite and jaw
Crossbites, or a narrow upper jaw that benefits from gentle expansion to balance how the jaws grow together.
Teeth coming through
Front teeth that stick out, baby teeth that will not come out on their own, or adult teeth that are missing or stuck.
Habits
Thumb sucking and similar habits, which we can help gently stop before they affect how the teeth and jaws develop.
When early treatment is the right call, we use gentle tools like plates, expanders or a short course of early braces. You can see these on our treatments page.
Will my child need braces twice?
Usually not. Most children only ever need one round of treatment. Two-phase care is the exception, not the rule.
An early, focused step
A short, targeted treatment while your child is still growing, used only when it clearly makes things easier down the track.
Later, if needed
Full braces once all the adult teeth are through, for the final result. Many children skip this, or never need a first phase at all.
When your child is ready for full treatment, see our guide to braces in Auckland, or learn more about a specialist orthodontist in Auckland.
Wondering if it is time for a first check?
Book a Free Smile Assessment, in Newmarket or on Zoom. We will take a gentle look and give you a straight answer on whether to start now or simply keep watching, with no pressure either way.
Book your free assessmentCommon questions from parents
When should my child first see an orthodontist?
From around age seven. By then enough adult teeth have come through for us to spot anything that may need guiding, while there is still plenty of growth to work with. Most children who come for an early check need no treatment yet, just a plan and a date to review.
Does my child need early treatment, or can we wait?
Often you can wait, and simply watching while your child grows is the right call. Early treatment is only worth doing when it makes later treatment simpler, or prevents a problem getting worse. We will tell you plainly which of those applies to your child.
What problems benefit from early treatment?
Things like crossbites, a narrow upper jaw, front teeth that stick out, baby teeth that will not come out on their own, missing teeth, and habits such as thumb sucking. Catching these early can guide growth and make any later treatment shorter.
Will my child need braces twice?
Not usually. Many children only ever need one round of treatment. Where a short early phase is worthwhile, a second phase later is sometimes needed once all the adult teeth are through, but we only recommend it when it clearly helps.
How much does children's orthodontic treatment cost?
It depends on what, if anything, is needed. A first assessment is the place to start, and any treatment is quoted individually. You can see our guide prices on the pricing page.
Do we need a referral from our dentist?
No, you can book a check directly with no referral needed. If your dentist has spotted something and referred you, bring along any notes or x-rays they gave you.
Start with a gentle first check
The easiest first step is a Free Smile Assessment. No referral, no pressure, just a clear picture of how your child's smile is developing.
Book a Free Smile Assessment