Does my child need braces?
Little Sally’s first adult tooth comes through. It’s wonky! Don’t panic though, it may be far too early to know if Sally will need braces. There are still so many other adult teeth to grow, and Sally will be doing a lot of growing too.
There are a number of reasons why some children will need early orthodontic treatment (or Early Intervention Orthodontics).
Here are a few signs that your child may need Early Intervention Orthodontics:
- Severe jaw discrepancy e.g. the top jaw is a lot larger than the bottom jaw, or vice versa, jaw deviates to one side.
- Severe crowding. Sometimes early intervention will mean that the severity of the problem later on will be minimised. Further treatment could still be required in the future, but it won’t be as extensive or complicated.
- Early removal of baby teeth. The baby teeth hold the spaces open for the adult teeth to erupt at the right time. Early removal can cause drifting of the teeth and close these spaces, so the adult teeth cannot erupt properly.
A band and loop space maintainer fitted following the early removal of a baby tooth.
- Inability to chew properly as the teeth are not meeting together.
- Thumbsucking habit. This can cause permanent space problems and changes to the dental arch. With appropriate treatment, the effects can be minimised or prevented.
Dental problems caused by thumbsucking habit.
- Cleft palate.
If you think your child may have any of the above problems, it is imperative that they are seen by a general dentist for an adequate assessment. If necessary, your child can then be referred to an orthodontist.
DISCLAIMER:
Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding, you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.
