THUMB SUCKING

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Thumb sucking

When very small children suck their thumbs, it’s usually no big deal. However, if the habit continues past the age where adult teeth are coming through, the front teeth can be pushed forward, creating an open bite.

The upper jaw may also end up narrower than it should be. If you’re concerned about your child’s thumb sucking, seeing an orthodontist when your child is 6 or 7 years old is a good idea.

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“I just wanted to pass on a little feedback. The technician who adjusted my daughter’s plate on Friday and today was exceptional. How she approached it, and how she treated my daughter was EXACTLY what I want from all service providers, especially those in health. She cares, and it’s obvious. She wasn’t prepared to stop adjusting, working, trying, until she was perfectly happy with the fit and comfort. I was 100 percent comfortable that if she was happy, then we were good.”

“Dr Todres made me feel really confident, because he’s someone willing to have a chat and a laugh, you get a rapport. He’s so knowledgeable, I felt we were in good hands and lucky to get him.”

“To anyone choosing an orthodontist I’d say it’s important to do a little homework on who you’re going to go and see. Of course it’s important what they’re going to do and how they’re going to do it; but at Smileworx you get a team that works together so nicely, and they’re so accommodating, it’s made the process an easy ride all the way through. All parents are busy and if the orthodontic treatment can go a bit smoother and a bit easier, that’s always going to be good. They even do all the liaising with the dentist, so I don’t have to worry about any of that.”

“There’s definitely a different feeling at Smileworx and that’s why I continue to go to them. I remember the first time I ever went there, I felt like I’d known Dr Todres for a long time, and so did my son. The ladies that work there, he must really hand-pick those because in 11 years there hasn’t been a single dud. I could have the whole bunch of those women as my friends. Most of them have been with him the whole time. The clinic isn’t at all clinical, the colours and everything. It’s a really nice place as soon as you walk in.”

“My youngest has had to have quite a few of her baby teeth taken out so the plate would fit in there and she has quite a lot of anxiety, but they’ve been wonderful with that. The dentist said when she was explaining it to her, ‘the fairy is going to come in, so close your eyes because she needs the darkness and she’s going to dance all over your teeth’. Afterwards my daughter said, ‘I did feel the fairy dancing, she had high heels on!’”

“My younger son came with us to an appointment once and Dr Todres saw in a tick that he was going to be a candidate for braces, because he was a mouth breather. He knew that your tongue has a lot to do with the size of the arch of your roof palette – if you breathe through your nose more then your tongue widens it out, but if you breathe through your mouth, you’re not widening it as much. Anyway, Dr Todres was spot on – a few years later we were back there with my younger son for braces and an expander. I learned quite a bit at Smileworx!”

“One of the receptionists is such a lovely person. Her manner and her positive bubbly nature made the whole thing – you’d actually look forward to the appointments. And all the other girls, they were lovely too, but she just shone. It really changed the experience for me. They create a very warm atmosphere. Often a medical area can be opposite to that – very quiet – and for kids that’s the last thing they want. For little kids, they have PlayStation and iPads on the wall, you can grab one of those while you’re waiting.”