It’s common for families to send their children to the dentist for regular check-ups. However, a dentist isn’t the only dental expert that a child needs to see. Many people confuse dentists with orthodontists, mainly since the two have several overlaps in dental care. 

Orthodontics is a specialized branch of dentistry with professionals who correct bites, occlusions, and the straightness of teeth and jaws. Without proper alignment, your child’s teeth and jaw can experience dental complications that are much worse with long-term side effects.

Preventing orthodontic complications before they occur

Visiting an orthodontist early on will give your child a strategic advantage in having fewer problems with their teeth. Once they reach the age of 7, children will start developing permanent front teeth and their set of adult molars. These dental landmarks can define if children will have problems with their bite or teeth alignment later in their lives. With the proper early observation and assessment, an orthodontist can prevent complications that will require braces or aligners in the future.

In this article, we’ll share three problems an orthodontic consultation can fix.

Tooth eruptions

Children typically grow four permanent molars and the same number of incisors by reaching the age of 7. However, a child can develop more or less than these numbers. This can lead to missing, crowding, or extra teeth that can cause problems with their bite. Besides an uneven set of teeth, a child with misaligned teeth will also be more prone to dental complications like cavities and gingivitis. Hard-to-clean areas in between teeth can hide germs and bacteria that will be more difficult to manage as your child grows.

Tooth loss

Although baby teeth naturally fall off, the replacement teeth are generally more durable. Their growth also follows a particular pattern instead of randomly growing throughout a child’s life. Any instances where teeth fall out of order can lead to dental complications concerning their alignment. Unfortunately, people who aren’t dental professionals can’t determine if a lost tooth is natural. This is why it’s vital to receive orthodontic consultations to verify if your child’s lost tooth is anything out of the ordinary.

Malocclusions

Malocclusion, or generally referred to as misaligned teeth, can vary from person to person. These spacing issues can vary, depending on the type of misalignment presented. An overbite presents itself in a patient with front teeth that protrude further than the lower teeth. In contrast, an underbite has the lower teeth extending farther than its upper counterpart. Besides being a cosmetic concern, these misaligned jaws can cause your jaws to grow weaker over time.

These misalignments can result in a posterior or anterior crossbite. Instead of directly affecting a person’s teeth, these conditions affect the entire row of teeth by compromising a person’s jaw. This can lead to long-term damage that will require treatment through braces or mouthguards.

Conclusion

Sometimes, a person can have misaligned teeth without causing major complications to their oral health. Some adults can live with minor malocclusions and lead relatively normal lives. However, the potential negative effect on your children’s dental health is a risk you shouldn’t take. You should start early in informing your child about the benefits of oral health. Besides teaching them the proper way to brush and floss their teeth, a regular visit to dental experts will ensure strong and healthy adult teeth.

Consulting with the proper dental experts will minimize your child’s risk of experiencing dental issues in the future. At Edmonton Smiles, our dental professionals can handle dental treatments for patients of all ages. If you need to receive professional orthodontics in Edmonton, AB, book an appointment with our clinic today!

Posted in Dental News & Advice