Waiting until facial development is complete or until the permanent teeth have come in can make correction of many orthodontic issues more challenging. Both children and adults can benefit from orthodontic care, but addressing issues early is almost always the ideal choice.
Are you wondering if you or your child might have need for orthodontic care? Here are some of the most common early conditions to watch for that can indicate the need for an orthodontic evaluation:
• Difficulty when chewing or biting
• Chronic mouth-breathing
• Sucking the thumb, fingers, or any other oral sucking habits that continue after age 6
• Overbite – when the upper teeth overlap the lower teeth by more than 5mm
• Top front teeth that cover more than 25% of the bottom teeth while biting
• Underbite – when the top front teeth go behind the bottom front teeth when biting
• Crowded, crooked, overlapped, misshapen, misplaced teeth or extra teeth of any size
• Crossbite – when one or more teeth tilt toward the cheek or toward the tongue
• The center of the top and bottom teeth don’t line up
• Uneven teeth-wearing
• Baby teeth that are lost early for any reason
• Mouth discomfort
• Clicking in the jaw joints
• The jaw shifts off-center while chewing or biting
• A jaw that protrudes, or recedes, too much
• Difficulty speaking or enunciating clearly
• Chronic biting of the inner cheek or roof of the mouth
• Asymmetrical facial structure
• Grinding or clenching of the teeth
If you notice that either you or your child has any of these conditions, they could be signs that there is a risk of orthodontic or health problems. The sooner these problems are addressed, the wider and brighter you will be able to smile going forward! We happily provide complimentary evaluations and records and would enjoy hearing form you (408) 225-6660!www.drboschken.com
