Dr. LM Pretorius Orthodontist

14/10/2026

Is your child still sucking their thumb? 🦷

Thumb sucking is a natural comfort habit for young children. However, when it continues as the permanent teeth begin to develop, it can influence the way the teeth and jaws grow.

Prolonged thumb sucking may contribute to:
👄 Protruding upper teeth
🦷 An open bite
↔️ Narrowing of the upper dental arch
😬 Changes in the way the upper and lower teeth meet

The effect depends on the frequency, duration and intensity of the habit, as well as your child's stage of dental development.

If you're concerned about your child's thumb-sucking habit, an orthodontic assessment can help determine whether it is affecting their developing bite.

Early advice can make a difference.

07/10/2026

The final result you see in a before & after photo is the result of months of planning, appointments, adjustments and patience.

But there's something you don't see in the photograph:

The careful decisions made throughout the treatment journey.

Every tooth movement matters.
Every adjustment matters.
Every stage of treatment matters.

Our goal isn't simply to create straight teeth.

It's to create a beautiful smile, a healthy bite and a result that is designed for the long term.

And because Dr Pretorius personally oversees your treatment, your journey remains specialist-led from start to finish.

The transformation is worth the journey. 💙

30/09/2026

When choosing orthodontic treatment, it's easy to focus on the appliance.

“Which braces look best?”
“Which ones are cheapest?”
“Which ones work fastest?”

But here's what really matters:

🦷 The diagnosis.
🦷 The treatment plan.
🦷 The orthodontist.
🦷 The technology.

The Damon System is an advanced self-ligating braces system, but even the best technology still needs specialist planning and precise clinical ex*****on.

At our practice, Dr Pretorius personally attends to his patients and oversees their treatment throughout the entire journey.

Because it's not simply about putting braces on teeth.

It's about knowing exactly where those teeth need to go—and why.

23/09/2026

16/09/2026

You don't necessarily need to wait until all the permanent teeth have erupted.

An orthodontic assessment around 9 years of age can help identify certain developing problems early.

An early assessment can help us look at:

✔ Jaw growth and development
✔ Crowding
✔ Bite problems
✔ Missing or impacted teeth
✔ Habits such as prolonged mouth breathing or thumb sucking

Sometimes treatment isn't needed immediately—and that's perfectly okay.

An early consultation can simply give you information, monitoring and peace of mind.

The right time to treat isn't always the earliest time to treat.

09/09/2026

A smile can look straight and still have an underlying bite problem.

A properly planned treatment considers:

✔ Tooth alignment
✔ Your bite
✔ Jaw relationship
✔ Facial balance
✔ Long-term stability

At our practice, Dr Pretorius personally oversees your treatment from beginning to end, using advanced technology such as the Damon System.

Because a beautiful smile should also function beautifully.

01/09/2026

Spring is here—and with it comes fresh starts, brighter days and plenty of reasons to smile!

Just like flowers bloom with the right care, beautiful smiles take time, patience and expert care.

Here’s to new beginnings, fresh confidence and smiles that brighten every room. 💙

Happy Spring Day from Dr LM Pretorius & Team!

26/08/2026

Did you know that how your child breathes can influence the way their teeth and jaws develop?

Chronic mouth breathing is more than just a habit—it can affect facial growth, bite development, and the position of the teeth.

Signs of mouth breathing may include:
▪️Lips that are often open at rest
▪️ Snoring or restless sleep
▪️ Crowded or protruding teeth
▪️ A narrow upper jaw or high palate
▪️ Difficulty keeping the lips comfortably together

Over time, mouth breathing can contribute to:
✔ Crowded teeth
✔ Bite problems
✔ Narrow dental arches
✔ Changes in facial development
✔ An increased need for orthodontic treatment

The good news? Early assessment can make a significant difference.

At our practice, Dr Pretorius carefully evaluates not only your child's teeth, but also how the teeth, jaws, and facial growth work together. If mouth breathing is suspected, we may recommend further assessment by the appropriate healthcare professional as part of a comprehensive treatment approach.

Because creating a beautiful smile starts with understanding the whole picture—not just the teeth.