Childhood is an important time as it acts as a foundation for the rest of their lives. This holds for many arenas of life, including their dental well-being.

Typically, kids start losing their baby teeth between the ages of five and seven. These years are crucial in many ways. Firstly, losing baby teeth too soon or too late can create complications with the placement of the permanent teeth. Any issues related to the permanent teeth have to be addressed during this time itself as ignoring such problems can lead to a lifelong ordeal of tooth and gum-related problems.

In this article, we will take a look at some of the common dental issues faced by children and how they can be prevented and treated.

The Importance of Early Intervention

Let us first understand why children have orthodontic issues. Like the rest of the body, a child’s mouth is constantly developing and growing and is thus prone to dental misalignments. Such issues can occur due to many reasons such as thumb sucking, using a pacifier, early loss of baby teeth or even genetics.

It is a common misconception that an orthodontist treats only adult tooth issues. Typically, a child should have their first visit to an orthodontist around the time they start getting their first permanent teeth, that is around the age of seven. This is the best time to diagnose any dental misalignments and nip it in the bud.

Early intervention allows dentists and orthodontists to create a pathway for the growth of the jaw and incoming permanent teeth, thus preventing more serious issues later in life. It also enables them to identify and treat issues that may not be apparent to a common person. Even if your teeth appear to be straight, there may be underlying issues such as jaw misalignment or improper tooth eruption patterns.

Common Orthodontic Issues in Children

We know that, as a layperson, it can be difficult to identify an orthodontic issue. Here are some common orthodontic issues that you need to keep a lookout for in your child.

Crossbite

This is a kind of misalignment of teeth where the upper teeth sit inside the lower teeth when the mouth is closed. This can be uncomfortable, due to which children tend to move their jaw to one side. Crossbites can lead to serious issues such as tooth wear, asymmetrical jaw growth and various issues with the joints of the jaws. Correcting crossbites can prevent future dental issues.

The treatment of crossbite depends on the severity of the condition and the number of teeth affected. It is usually treated by dental braces which can rectify the misalignment by slowly shifting the teeth to their original position.

Open Bite

An open bite is a gap between the upper and lower front teeth when the child bites with the back teeth. The two sets of teeth do not overlap when the mouth is closed in an open bite. This forms a space of opening between the upper and lower arches.

An open bite can make it difficult to bite and chew food properly. It can also lead to displeasing habits such as excessive thumb-sucking or tongue-thrusting. Many children also face speech problems. Orthodontists treat open bites using braces, clear aligners or headgear. Treatment for open bite starts as early as the age of seven, right when they start getting permanent teeth.

Overbite

Another common dental misalignment issue, an overbite is when the front teeth protrude and extend well beyond the bottom set of teeth. Treatment of overbite is important for many reasons, especially for individuals where the gap between both teeth is quite large. Overbite can lead to issues such as

• Improper chewing
• Trouble with breathing
• Speech impediments
• Uneven wear
• Gum diseases
• Cavity formation
• And others

Overbite is caused by the irregular size or shape of the jaw or lack of space in the jaw area to accommodate all teeth. It is easier to treat overbite in children as this is the time when their jaw area can be modified easily. The treatment procedure usually includes the following steps:

• Removing baby teeth to make space for permanent teeth
• Using growth modification devices to place the jaw optimally
• Using braces to slowly shift the teeth and jaw to their natural place
• Using retainers to prevent re-shifting of the teeth

Crowding

Crowding is a condition where there’s not enough space to accommodate all the teeth within the jaws, leading to the displacement of teeth. This happens when the size of the jaw is not proportionate to the teeth. It can be really difficult to clean crowded teeth, not to mention it looks unpleasant. Crowding also increases the risk of developing cavities, gum diseases and dental decay.

Premature loss of baby teeth, for any cause, increases the risk of teeth crowding. When a gap is created in the mouth, the adjoining teeth shift to occupy this gap, thus eating into the space of the permanent teeth.

This is why orthodontists recommend the use of dental space maintainers when children lose their baby teeth prematurely. These maintainers maintain the space for permanent teeth, thus preventing the shifting and crowding of teeth. For teenagers and young adults, crowding is treated using braces and Invisalign which slowly shifts the misplaced teeth back to their actual position.

Abnormal Eruptions

These are a result of anomalies in the teeth development process due to which the tooth moves from its natural pathway and erupts in the wrong place. Abnormal eruptions can be caused due to the following reasons:

• Premature loss of baby tooth causing a change in the spacing of the mouth.
• A small mouth unable to accommodate all the teeth
• Development of unusual numbers of primary teeth
• Any injury to the jaw or mouth

The treatment of abnormal eruptions includes pulling out stubborn baby teeth that haven’t fallen on their own and using Invisalign or braces to straighten the misplaced teeth.

Increased Overjet

A dental misalignment which is similar to an overbite, increased overjet occurs when the top front teeth overlap the bottom front teeth. This lack of symmetry leads to a gap between both sets of teeth.

Due to increased overjet the front teeth stick out and appear more prominent than the others. An increased overjet causes what is commonly known as ‘buck teeth’. Increased overjet is treated in various ways based on the severity of the situation such as

• Veneers
• Dental braces
• Dental bonding
• Placement of crown

Diastema

This condition is a dental irregularity characterised by excessive spacing between adjacent teeth. The most common type of diastema is midline diastema, a gap between the front two teeth.

Diastema can impair a person’s physical appearance and can also lead to gum disease. Food particles can get stuck in between the spacing of the teeth which can be difficult to remove while brushing. This, in turn, increases the chances of dental decay.

Diastema is usually faced by children with baby teeth but usually resolves when they fall out and the permanent teeth come. However, sometimes, it can continue to preteens and teenagers as well. In such cases, orthodontic treatment is required.

Diastema is treated by:

• Braces
• Dental bonding
• Porcelain veneers
• Dental implant
• Dental bridge

How to Know if You Need to Take Your Child to an Orthodontist

Now that we know that children aged seven and above can be helped by an orthodontist, let us understand what signs to keep a lookout for to understand whether you need to take your child to one.

Here are some of the symptoms to look out for:

• Premature loss of teeth or losing them too late: While there’s a range of ages for losing baby teeth, losing them too early or too late can lead to problems. A child orthodontist can help in identifying these issues and getting them fixed.
• Jaw clicking or shifting: The lower jaw can shift due to a bite problem. This can lead to jaw pain and other dental issues. An orthodontist can evaluate the teeth’ alignment and make any corrections that are required.
• Difficulty in biting or chewing: Eating should be a comfortable affair. But if your child complains of pain during eating, it may require an orthodontist visit.
• Breathing from the mouth: While orthodontists cannot correct breathing from the mouth, some orthodontic problems can lead to mouth breathing. An orthodontist can help your child with such kinds of issues.
• Cheek biting: While biting normally, the outer cusps of the upper teeth hold the cheek away from the lower teeth so that we don’t bite our teeth. But if your child is biting your teeth constantly, then it can be a crossbite or some other issue, which an orthodontist can help you with.
• Facial imbalance: Misaligned teeth and jaws can disturb the appearance of the chin, lips and other facial features. An orthodontist can evaluate the facial features and take corrective actions if needed.

Common Orthodontic Treatment Options for Children

Let us now look at some of the common treatment options used for orthodontic issues in children.

• Braces: Dental braces are one of the most commonly used orthodontic treatment options for children. But it is more than a treatment, it leads the way to a healthy and confident smile. Braces are used to correct a range of issues including crowded teeth, jaw alignment and more. Braces have two essential elements – archwires and elastics. Archwires help in the actual movement of teeth by fitting into the brackets of the braces. Braces are tiny bits of rubber bands that add an extra push to enable your child to deal with misalignments and stubborn bite issues.
• Aligners: These are commonly used to correct crowded or crooked teeth and can be very helpful for people who are self-conscious about their smiles. Such issues can also hinder their dental hygiene, which aligners can also help with.
• Retainers: This is a device designed to keep the teeth in the proper position. Retainers are made from acrylic, clear plastic or wire that fits over or behind the teeth. The primary function of the retainers is to prevent teeth from reverting to their original position.
• Mouthguards: Mouthguards are flexible protective covers of the teeth that can be very helpful for your child when they are undergoing orthodontic treatment. They are also used for protection from teeth grinding, sports injuries and other physical impacts.
• Orthodontic surgery: Sometimes, your orthodontist might suggest surgery, if the issue is more serious and cannot be corrected using any of the above methods.

A Final Word

Orthodontic treatment can be very beneficial for children. Apart from fixing the actual dental issue, orthodontic treatment can help in improving oral function and increase confidence. Parents often shy away from taking their child to an orthodontist. However, this visit and the treatment following it should not be taken lightly. They play a significant role in the long-term dental health of your child and their overall well-being.

Sources:

• https://www.matthewsanddai.com/common-orthodontic-issues-in-children/
• https://compassdentalgroup.com/common-orthodontic-problems-in-kids/
• https://icondentalcenter.com/common-orthodontic-issues/
• https://hawleyorthodontics.com/7-early-common-orthodontic-problems-we-watch-for-in-kids/
• https://aaoinfo.org/child-orthodontics/