Tooth eruption and crowding
The dentist checks baby teeth, adult teeth, eruption timing, crowding, spacing, missing teeth, retained teeth, and areas that may be hard to clean.
Growth and Bite Review
Checking how teeth and bites are developing as children grow
Parents often notice crowding, gaps, an unusual bite, mouth breathing or adult teeth coming through in unexpected places. An early orthodontic assessment can help distinguish what needs watching from what may need advice or referral.
If you are unsure whether your child is 'too young' for an orthodontic question, you can still raise it at a routine dental visit.
Growth and Bite Review appointment details
Useful for
Crowding questions, bite changes, early or late tooth loss, habits, orthodontic monitoring, and parent questions about timing
Costs
Assessment, records, monitoring, referral, and health fund cover can affect costs; itemised details are discussed first
RISKS & LIMITATIONS
Possible risks, limitations, expected maintenance requirements, and the potential need for additional care are discussed where relevant before treatment begins.
Start Here
Often the most useful answer is 'let's monitor this'
We look at tooth eruption, spacing, bite, jaw movement, habits and cleaning access. Some findings are normal stages of development. Others are worth recording or referring for an orthodontic opinion. The timing matters as much as the finding itself.
Start here if
- 01Your child's adult teeth look crowded, rotated, delayed, or are erupting in an unexpected position.
- 02You have noticed thumb sucking, mouth breathing, grinding, jaw clicking, or bite changes.
- 03A school dental visit, dentist, or parent concern has raised a question about orthodontic timing.
- 04You want to know whether to monitor, start prevention, or seek an orthodontic opinion.
Assessment
What your dentist checks
Your dentist checks tooth eruption, bite, jaw function, habits, records needs, and referral suitability before recommending next steps.
Bite and jaw development
Bite pattern, jaw movement, crossbite signs, overbite or open-bite concerns, clenching, grinding, and jaw symptoms can be reviewed.
Habits and history
Thumb sucking, dummy history, mouth breathing, tongue posture, speech concerns, snoring, and family history may be discussed where relevant.
Records or referral needs
Photos, radiographs, orthodontic records, monitoring intervals, or referral can be discussed where clinically indicated and useful for planning.
Your Appointment
What happens at your appointment
We will talk through what you have noticed, check growth and bite signs and explain whether monitoring, preventive support, records or specialist referral would be sensible.
Talk through what you have noticed
The appointment starts with parent concerns, dental history, tooth eruption timing, habits, symptoms, previous advice, and what you want clarified.
Review growth and bite signs
Your dentist checks tooth eruption, spacing, crowding, bite, jaw movement, soft tissues, habits, and cleaning access as appropriate for your child's age.
Discuss monitoring or referral
If monitoring, records, preventive advice, or specialist orthodontic referral may be suitable, the dentist explains the reason, timing, alternatives, and likely next steps.
Timing
Knowing when to monitor and when to ask for another opinion
Some orthodontic concerns need early referral, while others are watched as adult teeth erupt. The useful next step depends on the finding, your child's age, symptoms, cleaning access, and whether a problem is changing.
- Monitoring may be appropriate when development is within an expected range.
- Referral may be discussed if growth, eruption, bite, habits, or symptoms suggest a closer orthodontic opinion is needed.
- Prevention still matters because crowded or erupting teeth can be harder to clean.
Related Care
When growth, habits or family care overlap
Early orthodontic assessments often connect with children's check-ups, prevention, clear aligners for older patients, oral hygiene advice, and emergency care when symptoms are urgent.
Fees, Health Funds, Payment Options
Helpful
FAQs
Questions about how your child's teeth and bite are developing
Answers to parent questions about orthodontic timing, crowding, bite changes, habits, referral, costs, and what an early assessment can and cannot decide.
Timing depends on your child's teeth, growth, symptoms, and what has prompted the concern. You do not need to know whether treatment is needed before asking for an assessment.
- Parents often ask when adult teeth start erupting or when crowding, spacing, or bite changes become noticeable.
- Earlier assessment may be useful if there are habits, trauma, missing teeth, delayed eruption, or bite concerns.
- Your dentist can explain whether monitoring or referral is a sensible next step.
The assessment is about timing and clarity, not assuming your child needs orthodontic treatment.
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