 Who
needs orthodontics, and when?
Studies show that millions of people have
oral health problems that could benefit from orthodontic
treatment. Without treatment, many of these people could
develop serious problems.
Although there is not a universal best age
to begin treatment, the British Orthodontic Society recommends
that every child see an orthodontist at an early age. However,
a visit at any age is advisable if a particular problem has
been noted by the parent, family dentist, or child's doctor.
Orthodontic specialists can improve smiles
at any age, but there are benefits to early diagnosis. Early
examination enables the orthodontist to detect and evaluate
problems and determine the appropriate time to treat them.
After the initial evaluation, the orthodontist may monitor
facial growth and development by periodic checkups while
the permanent teeth erupt and the face and jaws continue
to grow.
Early intervention frequently makes the
completion of treatment at a later age easier and less time-consuming.
In some cases, early treatment achieves results that are unattainable
once the face and jaws have finished growing. (Many orthodontic
problems can be corrected in adults as well as children, so
adults should not hesitate to consult an orthodontist to discuss
a problem.)
What are the most commonly treated
orthodontic problems?
 Crowding: Teeth
may be aligned poorly because the dental arch is small and/or
the teeth are large. The bone and gums over the roots of extremely
crowded teeth may become thin and recede as a result of severe
crowding. Impacted teeth (teeth that should have come in, but
have not), poor biting relationships and undesirable appearance
may all result from crowding.
Overjet or protruding upper teeth: Upper
front teeth that protrude beyond normal contact with the
lower front teeth are prone to injury, often indicate a poor
bite of the back teeth (molars), and may indicate an unevenness
in jaw growth. Commonly, protruded upper teeth are associated
with a lower jaw that is short in proportion to the upper
jaw. Thumb and finger sucking habits can also cause a protrusion
of the upper incisor teeth.
Deep overbite: A deep overbite or deep
bite occurs when the lower incisor (front) teeth bite
too close or into the gum tissue behind the upper teeth.
When the lower front teeth bite into the palate or gum
tissue behind the upper front teeth, significant bone
damage and discomfort can occur. A deep bite can also
contribute to excessive wear of the incisor teeth.
Open bite: An open bite results when the upper and lower
incisor teeth do not touch when biting down. This open space between the
upper and lower front teeth causes all the chewing pressure to be placed
on the back teeth. This excessive biting pressure and rubbing together
of the back teeth makes chewing less efficient and may contribute to significant
tooth wear.
Spacing: If teeth are missing or small, or the dental
arch is very wide, space between the teeth can occur. The most common complaint
from those with excessive space is poor appearance.
Crossbite: The most common type of a crossbite is when
the upper teeth bite inside the lower teeth (toward the tongue). Crossbites
of both back teeth and front teeth are commonly corrected early due to
biting and chewing difficulties.
Underbite or lower jaw protrusion : About 3 to 5 percent
of the population has a lower jaw that is to some degree longer than the
upper jaw. This can cause the lower front teeth to protrude ahead of the
upper front teeth creating a crossbite. Careful monitoring of jaw growth
and tooth development is indicated for these patients |
