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The Initial Challenge
The patient first attended our practice as a primary school student in 6th class, alongside her family. A comprehensive assessment by Orthodontist Claire O’Sullivan revealed several structural and dental health hurdles:
- The Crossbite: The upper left lateral incisor (tooth 22) was positioned palatally (trapped behind the lower teeth), creating an anterior crossbite.
- Bite Classification: A Class III structural tendency, where the lower jaw naturally sits slightly forward.
- Enamel & Gum Risks: The patient presented with generalised gingivitis, high plaque levels, and significant gingival hyperplasia (swollen, puffy gum tissue) around her front teeth due to a high-sugar diet and a lack of interdental cleaning.
The Comprehensive Care Programme
Our specialist team designed and engineered a non-extraction treatment plan focused on moving the trapped tooth out of crossbite, aligning the arches, and aggressively managing her gum health.
Phase 1: Overcoming the Crossbite (2022)
We began by bonding high-quality fixed metal braces to the upper arch. To create space for the trapped tooth to move forward out of the crossbite, our team placed a specialised open coil spring across the gap. Blue bite-raising composite was applied to the molars to temporarily open her bite, allowing the upper tooth to safely slide over the lower teeth without interference.
Phase 2: Complete Alignment & Structural Guidance (2022 – 2024)
Once the crossbite was successfully corrected, fixed braces were bonded to the lower arch to coordinate her bite. Over a two-year period, our orthodontic therapists systematically advanced through customised wire stages—utilising specialised elastics and precision bends—to fully resolve the crowding and level the occlusion.
Phase 3: Coordinated Dental Hygiene Coaching
Because fixed braces naturally trap food and plaque, the patient’s existing gum inflammation required continuous care. Throughout her treatment, our hygienist, Estelle Farrelly, and our clinical team provided intensive support:
- Holiday Lapses: When a holiday trip to India resulted in forgotten cleaning aids and a temporary spike in gum inflammation, our team acted quickly upon her return, providing disclosing tablets to visually highlight problem areas.
- Targeted Cleanings: The patient completed multiple professional scaling and polishing sessions to clear stubborn subgingival calculus.
- Bespoke Home Care Plans: Estelle provided step-by-step mirror tutorials, coaching the patient on the Modified Bass brushing technique and demonstrating how to slide specialised interdental TePe brushes and flossettes safely beneath her brace wires.
The Stable, Healthy Result
In April 2024, the patient’s active orthodontic treatment drew to a successful close. The braces were beautifully de-bonded, revealing a perfectly aligned smile and a completely corrected bite. To protect this excellent investment, custom-moulded upper and lower Essix retainers were delivered immediately for long-term night-time wear.
At her follow-up appointment in July 2024, our clinical team took updated retention photographs and confirmed that her alignment remains perfectly stable. The patient was seamlessly transitioned to a routine four-monthly hygienist schedule to maintain her significantly improved oral health. Sophie also kindly granted her full consent for us to share her incredible smile transformation!
The Specialist Advantage: Children entering secondary school often need extra encouragement with their dental routines. By combining specialist orthodontic movement with continuous, compassionate hygiene coaching under one roof, Dublin Orthodontist ensures that our young patients finish treatment with smiles that are not just straight, but radiantly healthy.
Start Your Child’s Smile Journey Today
Is your child struggling with crowded teeth, a deep bite, or a suspected crossbite? Early specialist intervention can guide dental development smoothly and set your child up for a lifetime of dental confidence.
