5 Signs Your Child Needs Orthodontics Care

Your child could need significant orthodontic care yet you might not even know it.  Orthodontic care must be provided in a timely manner or it will prove difficult to adjust tooth alignment and location.  A timely correction during your little one's childhood sets the foundation for a lifetime of fantastic oral health including a gorgeous smile.  However, plenty of parents fail to make orthodontic exams a component of their child's yearly check-up.  Aside from regular orthodontic exams, it is also necessary to monitor your child's oral health to determine if an urgent orthodontic care is required.

Misaligned Teeth are Cause for Concern

Take a close look at your child's teeth as they emerge through the gums.  If these teeth are not growing perfectly straight or if they are turned, crowded or otherwise misdirected, schedule an appointment with your orthodontist.  A mouth with crowded teeth will end up pushing teeth into overlapping and uneven positions.  If such crowded teeth are not remedied, they will worsen and prove that much more difficult to straighten as time progresses.  Furthermore, crooked teeth will prove challenging to clean.  They are more prone to extensive tooth decay and gum disease.

Malocclusion Issues

A malocclusion is a misalignment that occurs in the child's bite.  Bite issues are based on genetics.  They occur in several different ways based on the shape of the jaw.  If the upper and lower portions of the jaw are not properly aligned, grooves along the rear molar teeth will not fit as they should.  Your child's upper teeth must fit tightly over the lower teeth.  If you suspect your child has a malocclusion, it should be corrected right away.  Otherwise, his or her teeth will likely grind against one another, causing significant wear and tear.  If the malocclusion is severe, it can obstruct the development of the jaw and lead to a condition such as temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ).

Overjet

This dental term refers to a protrusion of the upper teeth in the front portion of the mouth.  It can also refer to the extent to which these upper front teeth emerge beyond the lower teeth.  If overjet is excessive, the teeth will be that much more vulnerable to damage and injury in the event of a fall or physical contact with the face.

Do Not Shrug off Your Child’s Thumb-sucking

Thumb-sucking is a serious problem.  It might seem harmless yet it really can cause orthodontic issues.  This is due to the fact that the front teeth in the upper portion of the mouth are slowly pulled forward as your child tends to his or her oral fixation.  If your child has a thumb-sucking habit, schedule an appointment with your orthodontist.

Issues With Baby Teeth

Baby teeth are essential to dental development as well as proper jaw formation and the guiding of adult teeth into the proper position.  However, baby teeth can be lost prematurely prior to the point in time at which adult teeth are prepared to emerge.  If your child has any issues with his or her baby teeth, see an orthodontist right away to ensure the adult teeth that follow come in at the proper positions.

Call us at (505) 634-5657 for more information from Family Choice Dental or to schedule an appointment in our dentist office in Albuquerque.