Early orthodontic intervention for children can be essential for healthy tooth structure later in life. This is why check-ups are so important – as a parent you may not be able to notice if your child’s teeth are crowding or if they have an overbite or underbite.
It’s important to remember that orthodontic issues in children are not just a physical health issue but also an emotional one. Unfortunately, many children suffer at the hands of other children due to an ailment they may have regarding the appearance of their teeth.
What types of orthodontic complications are there to be aware of in children?
- Crowded teeth/spacing issues – This is when your child’s teeth may be too small or big, too far apart or too close together, resulting in poor alignment and rendering breaking down foods difficult. Speech can also be affected.
- Buck teeth/protruding teeth – Your child’s upper jaw grows too much and protrudes outwards or the lower jaw does not grow correctly. Protruding teeth can leave your child exposed to accidents and correcting this issue will protect your child from possible detrimental contact.
- Underbite – Underbites are a lot less common than overbites. This is the opposite of an overbite, when the lower jaw protrudes over the upper jaw.
- Open bite – Your child’s back teeth bite together and front teeth do not, so there is no gap between their top and bottom teeth. This results in difficulty chewing and speech problems and generally caused by abnormal jaw development which can also evolve into abnormal tongue habits.
- Cross bite – Healthy top teeth should be wider than the lower teeth – when the opposite of this occurs, it is known as a cross bite.
If you would like more information about orthodontic treatment for your child here at Cliftonville, please do not hesitate to contact us. We can arrange a consultation for you and your child – our orthodontists are very used to treating children and will always be warm and welcoming.
We understand that the orthodontist can be a great source of anxiety for your child and we will always be as patient as is needed.