Which is better - Invisalign Teen or braces?

Invisalign Teen is fantastic. It’s removable, invisible, and easier to clean. However, it only works if it’s worn 20-22 hours a day. Fixed braces are the ‘non-compliant’ friendly option. They are on 24/7, doing their job. Whatever you decide, our dental team will be happy to help you.

How should my child brush their teeth with braces on?

We’ll show your child how to take care of their teeth, gums and oral health while they have braces.

Is it painful to have braces fitted?

No. However, they may take some getting used to; for the first few days after they have first been placed or after an adjustment, your teeth may feel slightly tight or sore.

Will my child get bullied for wearing ‘train track’ braces?

Braces and orthodontic treatments are much more common today than in the past, and many children with braces never get bullied at all. However, if your child is worried, we do offer tooth-coloured ceramic braces, as well as Invisalign – which is clear, invisible and not noticeable by others. As well as increased self confidence, kids with straighter teeth will have improved oral health and reduced likelihood of jaw pain.

What should we do if a bracket or wire breaks?

Please don’t worry! Come into our surgery and we’ll get it fixed for you.

Why does my child have to wear a retainer afterwards?

Retainers help to stop teeth drifting back to their original positions. If wearing a fixed retainer might be difficult for them, we do offer removable types for your child to wear at night.

Orthodontics for Children - Circ Dental | Dentist in Standish, Wigan

Orthodontics for Children in Standish, Wigan

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Treatments

Orthodontics for Children

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Children's Orthodontic Treatment

Orthodontic treatment for adults is often slightly more difficult than treating children, as adults’ jaws are fully developed. Because children’s teeth and jaws are still growing and developing, and their bones are more flexible than those of adults, we do have windows of opportunity to spot and address skeletal and tooth alignment issues.

Our orthodontic treatment for kids fits into two main categories:

Early intervention (ages 6-10)

Although milk or baby teeth won’t last forever, issues such as overcrowded teeth or narrow jaws can affect your child’s quality of life and ability to eat, speak and chew. Our trained orthodontic team can spot these issues early and take steps to correct them, such as widening the jaw so the adult teeth will have enough space to grow. This will reduce the need for interventions in adulthood.

Adolescent treatment (ages 11-14)

Once adult teeth have started coming through, we can use braces or aligners to adjust their positions and correct any issues with your child’s bite (for example, whether any teeth are sticking out, or whether they are overlapping too much or too little).

After we’ve used a 3D scanner to precisely image your child’s mouth, we can then find a treatment that works for them.

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Benefits of Orthodontics for Children

Confidence

Misaligned teeth can lead to self-esteem issues during an already challenging time in a child’s development. Correcting these issues early will improve self-confidence and give your child a beautiful, happy smile.

Oral health and hygiene

Teeth are much easier to clean if they are straight, with no gaps or tight spaces where brushes or floss cannot reach. This reduces the risk of tooth decay and gum disease later on.

Preventing bigger problems

Early intervention from our dental team can reduce the risk of enamel damage, jaw pain and tooth erosion caused by bite issues and misaligned teeth. Treating problems now when the bone is still growing also helps reduce the risk of skeletal issues which might require jaw surgery as an adult.

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Your Child's Orthodontic Treatment at Circ Dental

Consultation

When you come to see us in Wigan, we’ll first take a gentle scan with a comfortable 3D scanner. This will help us assess how your child’s mouth and jaws are growing, and see where their adult teeth are.

Treatment plan

The assessment will help us decide on one of three paths:

Watchful Waiting: Everything looks fine. We’ll monitor their growth with regular dental checkups.
Phase 1 (Interceptive): We spot a developing issue (like a narrow jaw); we recommend a simple appliance now (e.g., ages 7-10) to guide growth.
Adolescent Treatment: The jaw looks good, but the teeth need straightening. We wait until most adult teeth are in (ages 11-14) to begin.

We will go through all the options with you and your child, from metal braces to Invisalign for kids, and will never pressure you into any treatment.

Active treatment

The main treatment phase typically lasts 18-24 months, and involves:

Fitting the appliance (braces or Invisalign)
Scheduling regular adjustments (every 4-8 weeks)

Our dental hygienists will show your child how to keep their teeth healthy during the treatment.

Final reveal

At your child’s final appointment, we’ll take off their braces or children’s Invisalign for the last time, polish their teeth, and let them show off their brand new smile.

Retainer

At your child’s final appointment, we will provide a retainer, which will either be a small, fixed wire behind their teeth or a removable one they can wear at night.

This is to prevent their teeth drifting out of place; wearing a retainer keeps up all that hard work!

Meet Our Specialist Orthodontist

Dr Kelly Smorthit is a specialist orthodontist who treats patients of all ages. She is passionate about providing empathetic, person-centred care and is committed to lifelong learning and education. She works with all her patients to create detailed treatment plans that match their needs and lifestyle.

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Children's Orthodontic Treatments at Circ Dental, Wigan

We offer a variety of children’s orthodontic treatments tailored to your child’s needs, including:

Fixed metal braces (train tracks)

Fixed braces have advanced significantly in recent years and are now much smaller and more comfortable than those available in previous decades. They are especially suitable for complex or severe issues with tooth alignment.

Fixed ceramic braces

Fixed ceramic braces offer all the benefits of metal braces in terms of the strength to guide teeth into place, but are much more discreet and less noticeable.

Clear aligners

We offer both Invisalign First and Invisalign Teen. Invisalign aligners are almost invisible and are removed for eating, drinking and cleaning your teeth. Learn more about Invisalign for kids on our dedicated page.

Functional appliances

These are custom devices worn while your child sleeps (a little like night guards or retainers).

FAQs

Although the NHS provides excellent care, there are strict criteria for qualifying for free treatment (the IOTN score). Waiting lists are also often long (between 3 to 6 months). Our private orthodontics for children in Wigan has no long waiting list, so you can start right away.