Problems to Watch for in Growing Children

March 31, 2020

At TenBrook Orthodontics we believe that educating patients and their families will ensure that the proper steps are taken to maximize their children’s oral health.

Timing is everything, especially when it comes to your child’s orthodontic treatment. An early orthodontics evaluation is exceedingly valuable. It enables an orthodontist to help a child address oral health problems at a young age.

A child’s jaw and face grow very fast. Left unmonitored or unguided, this growth can affect crowding of adult teeth and the overall shape of the face.

When considering braces for kids, early evaluations can detect any preventable problems such as crowding or cross bites, and allow orthodontist to advise you on whether treatment is recommended, what form it will take and estimate its length.

An early treatment plan can help guide growth and prevent adult teeth from crowding for the most beautiful smile and face.

Early treatments can include regulating the width of the dental arches and gaining space for permanent teeth. This preventive care helps to reduce tooth extraction and impacted permanent teeth, as well as correct thumb-sucking, abnormal swallowing, and speech problems.

The goal of early treatment is to intercept the developing problem, eliminate the cause, guide the growth of facial and jaw bones, and provide adequate space for incoming permanent teeth. A patient may require a second course of treatment after all permanent teeth have come in to move those teeth into their best positions (in harmony with the lips, cheeks, tongue, and other teeth). Managing tooth location maximizes the health and aesthetic benefits for a beautiful face and smile.

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The kinds of problems orthodontists may recommend treating while a child still has some baby teeth include:

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Under bites – when the lower front teeth are ahead of the upper front teeth
Cross bites – when the jaw shifts to one side
Very crowded teeth
Excessively spaced teeth
Extra or missing teeth
Teeth that meet abnormally, or don’t meet at all
Thumb-, finger-, or pacifier- sucking that is affecting the teeth or jaw growth

Some of these orthodontic problems are inherited, while others may result from accidents, dental disease, or abnormal swallowing.

Janay had Thumb sucking habit and associated tongue thrusting with speech issues. All corrected with our Habit Block Appliance custom made in our lab, Lakeside Labs by Artie Brelsford.

Early orthodontic treatment can take many forms. The orthodontist could prescribe a fixed or removable “appliance” – a device used to move teeth, change the position of the jaw, or hold teeth in place in order to bring about desirable changes. Sometimes no appliances are necessary.

Dr. TenBrook and his team will discuss all the treatment options available with you to provide the best care and treatment overall for your child.

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Widening the mouth's palate allows the upper teeth to line up properly, giving your child a better bite. Additionally, just as a high palate and narrow arch restricts breathing passages, widening the palate, widens air passages, enabling your child to breathe more easily through the nose.

An orthodontic expander is a device used to widen the upper arch roof of the mouth. Orthodontic expanders may be necessary when braces alone are not adequate to fully correct the orthodontic problem.

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At TenBrook Orthodontics, we have our own in-house dental lab and a Certified Laboratory Technicians who will create your top quality dental appliances while keeping your convenience in mind. Having an in-house lab saves you time with a quick turnaround for preparing dental devices. Because we have control of how your appliance is made, you enjoy a more accurate and comfortable fit. Best of all, you won't have to wait weeks for your appliance to come back from an outside lab. We will fit you and be able to make any needed adjustments right on site.

Using our state-of-the-art technology, artistic craftsmanship and materials approved by the American Dental Association, our patients receive the finest orthodontic appliances to improve their smiles. Having the lab on premises assures that in addition to a rapid service, you receive a product that function well and fits comfortably.

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The RPE is a very common dental appliance used on growing children. It expands the palate and corrects the bite that either has a cross bite (“opposite” bite) or a narrow upper arch. It widens the upper jaw to create space for permanent teeth. RPE is usually worn for six to nine months in order to correct the bite.

In addition, if you notice any of the following in your child, check with your orthodontist:

Early or late loss of baby teeth.
Difficulty in chewing or biting.
Mouth breathing.
Jaws that shift or make sounds.
Speech difficulties.
Biting the cheek or the roof of the mouth.
Facial imbalance.
Grinding or clenching of the teeth.

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We recommend you bring your child in as young as 7 years old for a free growth check. We will examine the growth and development of their jaws and the development and eruption of their teeth; including root development, congenitally missing teeth and crowding problems. TenBrook Ortho specializes in orthodontics and dent facial orthopedics. Our team of experts will make recommendations to improve and correct developing problems that will affect facial harmony, bite alignment, and healthy tooth alignment.

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Treating a Jaw growth problem is much easier and less painful while growing then after growth is complete. The stability of teeth and smile are always more stable when an individual grows into the changes vs. making the changes after growth. Early treatment is highly recommended by Dr. TenBrook and associates when needed to prevent irregularities in facial and dental development.

Early treatment, also called Phase I, may prevent or intercept more serious problems (like Jaw Surgery) from developing and may make treatment at a later age shorter and less complicated (reduce the need for Extractions of adult teeth). Phase I is not for every child, there needs to be specific concerns to solve or it may be best to wait until all the adult teeth are in the mouth.

At TenBrook Orthodontics we offer a no charge Phase I orthodontic evaluation, to help you giving your child the best opportunity for a healthy and beautiful smile.

Our goal is a healthy mouth and smile that exudes self-esteem and promotes good oral habits. A healthy mouth is key to a healthy body, healthy spirit, and successful life. Get your child checked today!

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