Functional Orthodontic Braces Treatment in London

Are you looking for an experienced functional orthodontist in London? At Boston Orthodontics, we have over 25 years of hands-on experience providing completely bespoke functional orthodontic treatments for children and teenagers across London.

Whether your child is experiencing jaw alignment issues, has an overbite or underbite that needs to be corrected, or their jaw is not growing evenly, we can provide clear guidance and effective treatment that will be tailored to their individual needs.

What Are Functional Orthodontic Braces?

Functional orthodontic braces are specialised orthodontic appliances, which have been designed to correct bite and jaw alignment issues in young children and teenagers. Their primary purpose is to guide the development of your child’s upper and lower jaws so they fit together more effectively.

It’s also worth mentioning that there are different types of functional orthodontic braces, each of which is suited to specific bite and jaw development issues (more on that later).

How Functional Braces Work

Functional orthodontic braces work by guiding the position and growth of the upper and lower jaws while your child or teenager is still young and developing. When worn as prescribed by our orthodontists, the functional braces will gently hold your child’s jaw into the correct position, allowing the muscles and bones around their jaw to adapt to the desired position over time.

It’s a gradual process that typically lasts from 6 to 12 months, but can greatly impact your child’s quality of life as they grow into adulthood.

Who Needs Functional Orthodontic Treatment?

Children and teenagers with overbites, underbites, and uneven jaw growth can benefit greatly from a functional orthodontic treatment. If their issues are ignored during their key growth stages, they may become more complex and difficult to correct later on in life.

If you believe that your child needs a functional orthodontic treatment, or you want to double-check just to make sure, a simple orthodontic assessment with one of our orthodontists in London can give you all the information and answers you need.

Types of Functional Orthodontic Braces

There are several different types of functional orthodontic braces, each designed to address specific jaw alignment and bite issues during a child’s growth and development. They include:

Twin Block Braces

Twin-block braces are among the most widely used functional braces on the market. They consist of separate upper and lower plates that work together to encourage the lower jaw to move into a more forward position. These types of braces are most commonly used for children who have an overbite.

Herbst Appliance

The Herbst appliance is a fixed functional brace that is attached to the teeth. Because it’s designed to be fixed in place, your child doesn’t need to worry about whether they’re wearing it right or for long enough each day.

Other Functional Appliances

In addition to the above, depending on your child’s specific orthodontic needs and stage of development, other functional appliances may also be recommended. Some alternative examples include Frankel and Activator appliances.

Benefits of Functional Orthodontic Braces

There are many benefits that your child can experience from functional orthodontic braces, especially if the treatment is started at the right stage of development. Some of the key benefits include:

Better bite function
Improved jaw alignment
Support for a more balanced facial development
Reduced severity of future orthodontic treatments
Lower risk of tooth wear or strain due to a misaligned bite
Create a stronger foundation for traditional braces or aligners if needed later

Functional Braces vs Traditional Braces

While functional and traditional braces are both used to improve your child’s oral health, they serve very different purposes and are often used at different stages of development.

Functional braces are primarily used to correct jaw alignment and bite issues while a child or teenager is still growing. Their main purpose is to guide your child’s upper and lower jaws, so they fit together more effectively and support healthier bite function.

Traditional braces, on the other hand, are designed to straighten the teeth by gradually moving them into their correct position. They are usually fitted once the majority or all permanent teeth have erupted. As a result of that, traditional braces are more suitable for teenagers and adults who want to achieve a perfectly straight smile.

What to Expect During Treatment

Having a good understanding of what you can expect from your child’s orthodontic treatment is important. In the section below, we’ll provide you with some key information that you need to be aware of – from the initial assessment to the duration of the treatment and more.

Initial Orthodontic Assessment

Before your child begins their early orthodontic treatment, you will first need to bring them in for their initial orthodontic assessment. During this appointment, we will carry out a thorough evaluation of your child’s teeth, bite, and jaw development to determine whether early treatment is appropriate.

This is also the time when you can ask any questions you might have regarding your child’s orthodontic development or potential treatment options.

Fitting and Wearing the Functional Braces

If your child is a suitable candidate for braces for kids, the appliance will be carefully fitted and adjusted to ensure it is comfortable and effective. During the fitting appointment, we will explain how the functional braces work, how long they should be worn each day, and what your child can expect during the adjustment period.

We will also provide you and your child with clear aftercare and hygiene guidance that must be followed throughout the duration of the treatment.

Treatment Duration

How long your child needs to wear their functional orthodontic braces will largely depend on the type of appliance used, your child’s stage of development, and the overall complexity of their bite or jaw issue that we are treating.

In the majority of cases, young children wear their functional orthodontic braces for 6 to 12 months, although the exact duration can vary depending on their individual progress and how well the appliance is worn.

Cost of Functional Orthodontic Braces in London

The cost of functional orthodontic braces in London varies depending on several factors, including the type of appliance used, the complexity of your child’s orthodontic needs, and the length of the treatment that is required to achieve the most optimal results.

At Boston Orthodontics, the cost of functional orthodontic braces starts from £5,000. If you’d like to get an exact quote for your child’s specific case, please contact us today to book them in for an assessment.

To do that, you can either call 07767 270 053 or send an email to [email protected], and one of our team members will help you arrange an appointment and answer any questions you may have.

Why Choose Boston Orthodontics?

We are one of the leading providers of functional orthodontic braces in London. Over the last 25+ years, we have helped hundreds of young children and teenagers achieve healthier jaw development and improved bite alignment through a carefully planned orthodontic treatment.

Other reasons why you should choose Boston Orthodontics for your child’s functional orthodontic treatment include:

We work with some of the most experienced orthodontists in London
Your child’s treatment plan will be completely bespoke to their needs
We take a gentle approach to all our patients to make them feel comfortable
We use modern techniques and industry-leading technology
We are always honest, transparent, and clear in our communication

FAQs

At what age should functional braces be fitted?

Functional braces are most effective when your child is young, typically between the ages of 8 and 14. The exact age at which your child should get functional braces fitted depends on their growth pattern and the type of bite or jaw issue that we will be treating.

Once we’ve had the chance to see your child in person and have carried out an orthodontic assessment, we will let you know whether your child is ready for functional braces or if it would be better to wait and continue monitoring them for the time being.

Are functional braces removable?

It depends on the appliance that is going to be used in your child’s case. Some functional braces can be removed, while others are fixed in place.

How long do functional braces take to work?

Most children who wear functional braces need to wear them for 6 to 12 months, which is typically enough time to guide jaw development and improve how their upper and lower jaws fit together.

Will my child still need regular braces after?

Not necessarily, but it really depends on your child’s individual development and how their permanent teeth erupt over time. Whatever the case might be, you can be sure that an early treatment can set a solid foundation for a treatment involving regular braces if they are needed later on.

Do functional braces affect speech?

They can, but any changes in speech are usually temporary and part of a short adjustment period while your child adapts to their functional appliance.