Kids
Orthodontics.
Catch Problems
Early. Fix Them Faster.
The best time to assess a child's orthodontic development is age 7 — not when the problem has fully formed. During active jaw growth, many bite and space problems that would require complex treatment in adults can be guided, intercepted, or simplified with early appliances. At Hassaan Dental Clinic, Dr. Haris provides an honest assessment of whether your child needs treatment now, monitoring, or nothing at all.
Growing jaws are easier
to guide than finished ones.
By age 7, a child typically has their first permanent molars and some permanent incisors — enough of a mixed dentition to assess jaw width, bite relationship, emerging space for permanent teeth, and early signs of crowding or crossbite. This is not the age most children begin braces — it is the age where an accurate picture of developing problems can be formed, and where problems that benefit from early intervention can be identified and treated.
The growing jaw is the key advantage. In children between 7 and 12, the sutures between the jawbones are still open — meaning that expansion appliances can widen a narrow arch without surgery. A crossbite that would require orthognathic surgery in an adult can often be corrected in a child with a simple removable or fixed expander. This window closes as the child approaches puberty and the sutures fuse.
At Hassaan Dental Clinic, Dr. Haris provides an honest, evidence-based assessment — including a frank answer to the question most parents actually want answered: does my child need treatment right now, or can we monitor and wait? Many children assessed at age 7 need nothing more than monitoring until Phase 2 — and that is a completely valid outcome.
Open palatal sutures in growing children allow rapid palatal expanders to widen a narrow arch in weeks — a procedure that requires surgery in adults. This window is available only during childhood.
Space maintainers and early expanders can create room for unerupted permanent teeth — preventing impaction and reducing the need for extractions later.
Posterior crossbites caught early can be corrected with simple appliances in a few months. Left until adulthood, the same crossbite may require surgery alongside orthodontics.
Thumb sucking, tongue thrusting, and mouth breathing cause skeletal and dental changes over time. Intercepting these habits early prevents the malocclusion from developing fully.
Children who complete appropriate Phase 1 treatment typically have shorter, simpler Phase 2 fixed brace treatment — because the underlying skeletal problems have already been addressed.
Phase 1 vs Phase 2 —
what they are and when each is used.
Children's orthodontics is structured in two potential phases — each with a specific age window, clinical goal, and set of appliances. Not every child needs Phase 1. Every child who needs braces will have Phase 2.
Phase 1 orthodontics is sometimes over-recommended — every child assessed at age 7 does not need early appliances. The evidence for Phase 1 is strongest for: posterior crossbite correction, severe arch width discrepancy, and habit elimination. It is weaker for routine crowding management, where waiting for all permanent teeth to erupt and completing a single Phase 2 treatment produces comparable outcomes without adding an additional treatment phase. If your child's assessment reveals that monitoring and waiting is the correct approach, that is exactly what Dr. Haris will recommend — not unnecessary Phase 1 treatment. Equally, where Phase 1 genuinely simplifies the path to a good result, it will be recommended clearly and its benefits and limitations explained honestly.
Signs that your child
should be assessed now.
Most bite problems leave early clues. These are the signs that parents notice — and that dentists and orthodontists should take seriously rather than advise waiting on.
Prolonged thumb sucking causes the upper arch to narrow, upper front teeth to flare outward, and an open bite to develop. The earlier the habit is broken, the more spontaneous correction occurs. A habit breaker appliance is highly effective at stopping the habit quickly.
Chronic mouth breathing — often due to enlarged adenoids or allergies — causes a narrow upper arch, flared upper front teeth, and a long-face growth pattern. Dental treatment must be coordinated with medical management of the airway cause for stable results.
A posterior crossbite — where upper back teeth bite inside the lower — is one of the clearest indications for Phase 1 treatment. Left untreated, it causes jaw shifting, asymmetric jaw growth, and becomes harder to correct with age.
Crowded permanent incisors emerging from age 6–8 are the most common concern parents raise. Many cases are best monitored and treated comprehensively in Phase 2 — but severe crowding with space loss may benefit from early expansion or space maintenance.
A baby tooth lost too early allows neighbouring teeth to drift and block the space for the erupting permanent tooth — causing impaction or severe crowding. Space maintainers placed promptly after early loss prevent this drift and preserve the path for normal eruption.
Significantly protruding upper incisors ("buck teeth") increase the risk of trauma — a child falling and fracturing a protruding tooth is a preventable injury. Early reduction of overjet during Phase 1 reduces trauma risk and may simplify later comprehensive treatment.
Missed adjustment appointments delay treatment and can cause uncontrolled tooth movement. Build the appointment schedule into the family routine from the start.
Hard foods (apples, hard bread, ice), sticky foods (toffee, gum), and chewy foods dislodge brackets. Parents play an active role — pack lunches accordingly.
Children with braces are at higher risk of white spot lesions from inadequate brushing. Supervise brushing, use fluoride toothpaste, and attend regular hygiene appointments.
Elastics, headgear, and removable appliances only work when worn. Positive reinforcement — rather than conflict — is more effective at building the habit in younger children.
The retention phase is part of orthodontic treatment, not an afterthought. Discuss retainer type and expectations with Dr. Haris before treatment ends so your child is prepared.
A broken bracket means that tooth stops moving until it is repaired. Contact Hassaan Dental promptly for a repair appointment — do not wait for the next scheduled visit.
From first assessment
to lifelong retention.
Children's orthodontic treatment is a longer journey than adult treatment — spanning years of development. Here is how it unfolds from the first appointment.
Dr. Haris performs a complete orthodontic assessment — OPG panoramic X-ray, intraoral photographs, clinical examination, and assessment of jaw width, bite relationship, space for unerupted permanent teeth, and any habits (thumb sucking, tongue thrust, mouth breathing). The assessment concludes with one of three outcomes: (1) No treatment needed — monitor and review, (2) Phase 1 interceptive treatment recommended now, or (3) Monitor until Phase 2 age and treat comprehensively then. All three are valid outcomes — and all three are given honestly.
Where Phase 1 is clinically justified, the appropriate appliance is placed — rapid palatal expander, space maintainer, habit breaker, functional appliance, or partial fixed braces — depending on the problem being addressed. The child attends adjustment appointments at intervals determined by the appliance (expanders are activated daily by parents at home; fixed appliances are adjusted at 4–6 week intervals). Parents are fully briefed on their role in each appliance's success.
After Phase 1 is completed, the child enters a monitoring period — typically 6 months to 2 years — while the remaining permanent teeth erupt. Review appointments allow Dr. Haris to track eruption progress, ensure the Phase 1 corrections are holding, and plan the timing of Phase 2 treatment. This is not a treatment phase — it is active monitoring with specific milestones in mind.
When all (or most) permanent teeth have erupted, comprehensive fixed brace treatment begins. Metal braces are the recommended system for teenagers — the most durable, clinically capable, and cost-effective option for young patients. Adjustment appointments every 4–6 weeks with the full wire sequence from initial alignment through to finishing. This is the classic "teenager in braces" phase — and it produces the most comprehensive, stable orthodontic result possible.
Brackets are removed and the completed result documented. Retainers are fitted on the same day — the biological window for relapse begins immediately. Fixed bonded retainers (a wire on the back of the front teeth) are particularly effective for teenagers as they require no active compliance. Removable retainers are provided as a backup. Retainer wear is lifelong — establishing this habit during teenage years, when routines form most readily, is the most effective time to do it.
Periodic retention checks confirm that teeth are holding their position, retainers are intact, and no gradual relapse is occurring. Teenagers grow into adults — late mandibular growth in young men (continuing into the early 20s) can cause late lower incisor crowding even after excellent orthodontic treatment. Annual checks allow early identification and management of any late changes.
Which brace is right
for your child?
For teenagers in Phase 2, the brace choice matters. Here is an honest guide to the options available at Hassaan Dental Clinic for young patients.
| Feature | ★ Metal (Recommended) | Ceramic | Damon | Clear Aligners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 💰 PRICING (PKR) | ||||
| Starting price | 60,000 | 75,000 | 85,000 | Assessed at consult |
| Most affordable for teens? | ✓ Yes | ✗ | ✗ | Varies |
| ⚙️ CLINICAL SUITABILITY FOR CHILDREN | ||||
| Suitable for teenagers | ✓ Best choice | ✓ Good | ✓ Good | Compliance risk |
| No patient compliance required | ✓ Fixed | ✓ Fixed | ✓ Fixed | ✗ 22 hrs/day wear |
| Durable under teenage habits | ✓ Most durable | Moderate (more brittle) | ✓ Durable | N/A (removable) |
| Full malocclusion range | ✓ All complexities | ✓ All complexities | ✓ All complexities | Mild–moderate only |
| 👁️ AESTHETICS FOR TEENS | ||||
| Visibility | Visible (silver) — typical teen braces | ✓ Low (tooth-colour) | Visible (silver) | ✓ Nearly invisible |
| Coloured elastics available | ✓ Yes — fun for teens | Limited | ✗ Self-ligating | N/A |
| ✅ DR. HARIS RECOMMENDATION FOR TEENS | ||||
| Primary recommendation | ✓ First choice for most teens | If aesthetics important | Complex cases | ✗ Usually not recommended |
Kids orthodontics —
clear pricing at every stage.
Phase 2 fixed brace pricing is transparent. Phase 1 interceptive appliance costs depend on the appliance type and are quoted at the assessment appointment.
Important: Unit prices remain the same; final treatment cost may vary after clinical examination. Total monthly adjustment fees depend on treatment duration — estimated at consultation. Phase 1 appliance costs are quoted at the assessment after determining which appliance is clinically appropriate.
Parents' questions
answered directly.
Including the questions parents are sometimes afraid to ask — like whether Phase 1 treatment is really necessary.
The earlier you look,
the easier it is to fix.
A PKR 1,000 assessment (including OPG X-ray) gives a complete picture of your child's orthodontic development — and an honest answer on whether treatment is needed now, monitoring is appropriate, or waiting for Phase 2 is the right approach. No pressure. No unnecessary treatment.
