Early orthodontic treatment for children

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Services

Current offersNew patient offers

General & familyEveryday dental care

CosmeticVeneers, bonding, whitening

WhiteningIn the chair and at home

OrthodonticsAligners and braces

Implants & surgeryReplace what's missing

What's bothering you?Find care by concern

Current offers

New patientsA full 60 minute first visit$149 Emergency visitSame-day consult and X-rays$69 Single crown gap cappedBack teeth, with major dental cover$800 cap See all offersConsults, kids and more

General & family

General dentistCheck-ups, fillings and X-rays Children's dentistBulk billed under CDBS Emergency dentistSame-day care, Mon to Sat Crown and bridgeFor damaged or missing teeth

Cosmetic

Cosmetic dentistChanging how your smile looks Porcelain veneersNatural and long lasting Composite bondingSame-day chip and gap repair

Whitening

Lumi RefreshGentler, if whitening felt sensitive before Lumi RadianceThe fastest start in the chair

Orthodontics

Ortho consultAligners or bracesComplimentary Clear aligners and bracesPayment plans available Expansion and airwayGrowth-guided treatment

Implants & surgery

Implant consultTalk through your optionsComplimentary Dental implantsSingle tooth to full arch All-on-X full archFixed full-arch implants IV sedationFor nervous patients

What's bothering you?

Tooth pain or traumaEmergency care Nervous about the dentistGentle and sedation options Crooked teethAligners and braces Missing teethImplants and bridges Stained teethWhitening

Book Online

Current offers

New patients · $149

A full 60 minute first visit

Emergency $69

Same-day · consult + X-rays & OPG

Lumi Teeth Whitening

Home · Refresh · Radiance · from $449

Complimentary consult

Implants, aligners, veneers · no obligation

Dental implants

From singles to AOX full arch · free consultation

Clear aligners & braces

Plans from $500/month · free 3D scan

See all offers

Consults · kids · implants →

General & preventive

General dentist

Check-ups, fillings, X-rays

Children's dentist

CDBS bulk billing · $0 gap

Emergency dentist

Same-day · Mon to Sat · $69

IV sedation

For nervous patients

Wisdom tooth removal

Simple & surgical · pricing at consult

Dental implants

Single tooth to full arch

Crowns & bridges

Same-day available

Expansion and airway

Early interception from age 6

Clear aligners & braces

From $500/month · free 3D scan

Cosmetic and smile makeovers

AOX full arch implants

A fixed full arch of teeth on implants

Teeth whitening

Home · Refresh · Radiance · from $449

Composite & edge bonding

Chips, gaps and worn edges

Hybrid & porcelain veneers

Colour and shape changes

What's bothering you?

Toothache or pain

Same-day emergency · $69 incl. X-rays & OPG

Broken or chipped tooth

Emergency repair · same-day booking

Wisdom tooth pain

Simple & surgical removal · book emergency

Crowded or crooked teeth

Clear aligners · braces · free consult

Missing tooth or gap

Implants from $3,950 · free consultation

Stained or yellow teeth

Whitening from $449

Unhappy with my smile

Free cosmetic consult · no obligation

Nervous about dentists

IV sedation · we go at your pace

My child needs a check-up

CDBS bulk billing · $0 gap for eligible children

Not sure where to start?

Free consultation · no pressure

All health funds accepted · Payment plans available, humm from $0 deposit · CDBS bulk billing

Book online

Where your child is assessed

These photos were taken at our clinic in Melrose Central.

A friendly first visit

An assessment of how the jaw and teeth are developing.

CBCT scanner

Also used to check the airway

Treatment room with dental chair at Lumi Dental

Short, easy reviews

As your child grows

Our team

Dentists and oral health therapists

Dentist showing a patient her 3D scan on screen

Going through the findings

We only treat early when it helps

Waiting lounge

Room to settle in first

Consult room

Time to talk through your options

Clinical photography area at Lumi Dental

Clinical photos

Used to plan and check your treatment

Sterilisation room

Instruments sterilised after every patient

How it works

What happens at an assessment

Assessment

A friendly look at how your child's jaw and teeth are developing, with a scan and X-rays where helpful.

Plan and appliance

If treatment is recommended, we explain the plan in plain language and fit a simple appliance.

Short reviews

Easy check-ins to track progress. We will always be honest about whether acting now is the right call.

5.0

Average Google rating for Lumi Dental, Melrose Park.

Read the reviews on Google

Before you book

Age

We assess from about age 7, while the jaws are still growing.

Cost

Most plans cost $2,000 to $5,000.

Approach

We only treat early when it helps.

Airway

Our CBCT scan can also look at the airway.

The clinicians who do this treatment

Meet the team

When to bring your child in for an assessment

Mouth breathing

Breathing through the mouth at rest or during sleep. Often linked to a narrow upper jaw, enlarged tonsils, or restricted nasal airway. Affects facial development over time.

Snoring or restless sleep

Children who snore, sleep restlessly, or wake frequently may have a partially restricted airway. Sleep-disordered breathing affects concentration, behaviour, and growth.

Crowded or crooked teeth

Teeth crowding before all the adult teeth have erupted suggests the jaw is too narrow. Early expansion creates room naturally, often avoiding extractions later.

Crossbite

When upper back teeth bite inside the lower teeth. A posterior crossbite rarely self-corrects and can cause the jaw to shift to one side during growth, affecting facial symmetry.

Open bite or thumb sucking

A gap between the upper and lower front teeth when biting. Often related to prolonged dummy or thumb habits. Early appliance therapy can correct tongue posture and bite development.

Speech or swallowing

Lisping, tongue thrust during swallowing, or difficulty with certain sounds can indicate a jaw or oral muscle imbalance that benefits from early myofunctional guidance.

Treatment options in the growth window

Early treatment usually isn't braces. It's a removable or fixed appliance worn while your child is growing, to help the adult teeth come through in the right place and reduce the need for complex treatment later.

Rapid maxillary expansion (RME)

A fixed expander that gently widens the upper jaw over 3 to 6 months. We use it for crossbites, narrow arches and some nasal airway problems. It works best before about age 12.

Functional appliances

Removable appliances such as the Twin Block or Myobrace that guide jaw position, muscle posture, and tongue function. Used to correct developing overbites, underbites, and poor oral posture. Worn primarily at night and during rest periods.

Space maintainers

When a baby tooth is lost early, neighbouring teeth drift into the space intended for an adult tooth. A space maintainer holds that space open, preventing crowding and the need for future extractions.

Myofunctional therapy

Exercises and habit training to correct tongue posture, swallowing patterns, and lip seal. Addresses the muscular causes of open bites and narrow arches. Often used alongside appliance therapy to improve and maintain results.

Early braces (phase 1)

In some cases, short-term braces on the front teeth fix severe crowding or rotations before all the adult teeth are through. It's targeted and time-limited, not full orthodontic treatment.

Monitoring and review

Not every child needs treatment at age 7. Some benefit most from regular monitoring with intervention at the right growth stage. We assess, explain what we are watching for, and review at the appropriate intervals.

Rapid Maxillary Expansion (RME)

A fixed expander that gently widens the upper jaw over 3 to 6 months. Indicated for posterior crossbites, narrow arches, and nasal airway restriction. Evidence consistently shows RME increases nasal cavity volume and reduces airway resistance in growing children. Best results before age 12.

Functional Appliances

Removable appliances such as the Twin Block that guide jaw position and muscle posture. Used to correct developing overbites, underbites, and poor oral posture. Worn primarily at night and during rest periods.

Space Maintenance

Myofunctional Therapy

Exercises and habit training to correct tongue posture, swallowing patterns, and lip seal. Addresses muscular causes of open bites and narrow arches. Often used alongside appliance therapy to improve and maintain results.

Phase 1 Braces

In selected cases, limited fixed braces on the front teeth correct severe crowding or rotations before all adult teeth have erupted. Phase 1 is targeted and time-limited - not full orthodontic treatment.

Monitoring and Review

CBCT airway volume assessment

Our CBCT scanner does more than take X-rays. It captures a three-dimensional image of the jaws, teeth, and airway structures. Using this data, we can measure the volume of your child's nasal airway and pharynx and identify whether constriction in these areas may be contributing to mouth breathing, snoring, or disrupted sleep.

Airway volume is one measurement among many. It means more when it matches what we see in the chair, such as mouth breathing, snoring, a narrow jaw or a crossbite. We explain what the findings mean for your child rather than reading numbers in isolation.

Where the airway findings are significant, we work with your child's GP, ENT or sleep physician. We aren't a sleep clinic, but we can pick up the dental and jaw factors and handle the orthodontic side of treatment.

Early orthodontic FAQs

What age should my child be assessed?

From about age 7, while the jaw is still growing. An assessment doesn't always lead to treatment. Often it just tells us what to keep an eye on.

What does early treatment involve?

Usually a removable or fixed appliance to guide jaw growth, rather than braces. Most plans run 6 to 18 months.

How much does it cost?

The first consultation is free and includes a full assessment. Most treatment plans cost between $2,000 and $5,000, depending on what's needed.

Will my child still need braces later?

Not always. Many children need significantly less work in their teens, or none at all. Early treatment creates the right conditions for the adult teeth to come through properly.

Is it covered by health funds?

Orthodontic extras cover may apply depending on your policy. We check your entitlements and advise at consultation.

Areas we serve

We are at Melrose Central in Melrose Park, with free undercover parking. Most of our patients come from the suburbs below.

Ryde, Eastwood and Epping

Melrose Park, Ermington, West Ryde, Meadowbank, Ryde, Putney, Gladesville, Tennyson Point, Denistone, Denistone East, Denistone West, Eastwood, East Ryde, North Ryde, Marsfield, Macquarie Park, Rydalmere, Dundas, Dundas Valley, Telopea, Oatlands, Carlingford, Epping, Cheltenham and Beecroft.

Parramatta and the west

Parramatta, North Parramatta, Harris Park, Rosehill, Camellia, Granville, South Granville, Clyde, Westmead, Northmead, Wentworthville, Holroyd, Merrylands, Guildford, Toongabbie, Old Toongabbie, Winston Hills, Constitution Hill and Baulkham Hills.

Olympic Park, Concord and Canada Bay

Wentworth Point, Newington, Sydney Olympic Park, Rhodes, Liberty Grove, Concord, Concord West, Breakfast Point, Cabarita, Mortlake, Abbotsford, Canada Bay, Rodd Point, Russell Lea, Wareemba, Five Dock, Drummoyne, Homebush, Homebush West, North Strathfield, Strathfield, Silverwater, Auburn, Lidcombe, Berala, Regents Park and Chester Hill.

Inner West

Burwood, Croydon, Croydon Park, Enfield, Belfield, Ashfield, Haberfield, Summer Hill, Leichhardt, Balmain, Marrickville and Campsie.

Hunters Hill and the lower North Shore

Hunters Hill, Henley, Woolwich, Lane Cove, St Leonards, Crows Nest, Artarmon, Chatswood and Willoughby.

New patients · $149

Emergency $69

Lumi Teeth Whitening

Complimentary consult

Dental implants

Clear aligners & braces

Early orthodontic treatment

Where your child is assessed

What happens at an assessment

Assessment

Plan and appliance

Short reviews

Before you book

Why timing matters with children

When to bring your child in for an assessment

Mouth breathing

Snoring or restless sleep

Crowded or crooked teeth

Crossbite

Open bite or thumb sucking

Speech or swallowing

Treatment options in the growth window

Rapid maxillary expansion (RME)

Functional appliances

Space maintainers

Myofunctional therapy

Early braces (phase 1)

Monitoring and review

Treatment options in the growth window

Rapid Maxillary Expansion (RME)

Functional Appliances

Space Maintenance

Myofunctional Therapy

Phase 1 Braces

Monitoring and Review

CBCT airway volume assessment

Early orthodontic FAQs

What age should my child be assessed?

What does early treatment involve?

How much does it cost?

Will my child still need braces later?

Is it covered by health funds?

More about jaw growth in children

Gaps between baby teeth: why spaces in a toddler's smile are usually a good sign

Lip biting, pencil chewing and other habits in children: which ones affect teeth

Jaw clicking or jaw pain in children and teenagers: what to know

What to expect with early treatment

Areas we serve

Ryde, Eastwood and Epping

Parramatta and the west

Olympic Park, Concord and Canada Bay

Inner West

Hunters Hill and the lower North Shore

Book your child's assessment