Bite correction for growing children
A healthy bite is just as important as straight teeth — especially while a child is still growing.
At Synergy Orthodontics, we use the PowerBar which is a small, fixed orthodontic appliance that helps correct a common bite problem where the upper teeth sit too far forward (often called an “overbite”). It is securely attached to the teeth and works by gently guiding them into a healthier position over time.
Works alongside elastics to guide teeth into position effectively and predictably.
The Powerbar appliance is a small, discreet orthodontic device used to improve how the upper and lower teeth fit together while a child is still growing. It is a metal bar fixed to top teeth (molar to canine), using tight elastics your child places the elastic to the attachment on the lower back teeth along with wearing a customised lower removable retainer. Therefore compliance is essential.
It is most commonly used to treat:
Rather than moving all the teeth at once, the Carrière® appliance focuses on correcting the bite first, later tooth straightening commences.
The appliance is bonded to the teeth on both sides of the mouth and works together with tight elastics, worn between the upper and lower teeth, as well as a lower removable clear customised retainer.
Over time, this:
Once the bite has been corrected, treatment usually continues with aligners or braces to actually straighten the teeth.
In growing children, the teeth and jaws are more adaptable. Correcting the bite at this stage:
Bite correction does not always mean full braces straight away — it is often a staged, carefully timed approach. If you are trying to improve the bite above 13 years in a girl or more than 14 years in a boy, generally growth is already complete beyond these years and so treatment is less effective and they may need more complicated treatment such as jaw surgery to fully correct the bite. That is why we recommend assessments from 7 years old so that we can intervene at the most appropriate stage. When kids are younger growth is more effective and compliance is generally better than teenage years and younger kids tend to adapt to treatment easier.
The PowerBar Bite Corrector is used only in growing children and teenagers whose bite problems can benefit from intervention.
Suitability depends on:
A specialist assessment is essential to decide whether this approach is appropriate.
Parents and children often appreciate the PowerBar appliance because it is:
At Synergy Orthodontics, all bite correction is carefully planned and supervised by Dr Paula Sinnott, Specialist & Consultant-trained Orthodontist.
This ensures:
Book Your Child’s Orthodontic Assessment
If your child has been told they have an overbite, underbite, or their teeth don’t meet comfortably, an early specialist assessment is the best place to start.
Book a consultation at Synergy Orthodontics, Dublin, to find out whether early bite correction with the PowerBar appliance is suitable for your child.
If your child has been told they have an overbite, underbite, or their teeth don’t meet comfortably, an early specialist assessment is the best place to start. Book a consultation at Synergy Orthodontics, Dublin, to find out whether early bite correction with the PowerBar appliance is suitable for your child.