At what age can people have orthodontic treatment?
Children and adults can both benefit from orthodontics, because healthy
teeth can be moved at almost any age. Some orthodontic problems may be
easier to correct if treated early. Waiting until all the permanent teeth have
come in, or until facial growth is nearly complete, may make correction of
some problems more difficult.
An orthodontic evaluation at any age is advisable if a parent, family dentist
or the patient?s physician has noted a problem.
What causes orthodontic problems (malocclusions)
Most malocclusions are inherited, but some are acquired. Inherited
problems include crowding of teeth, too much space between teeth, extra
or missing teeth, and a wide variety of other irregularities of the jaws, teeth
and face.
Acquired malocclusions can be caused by trauma (accidents), thumb,
finger or dummy (pacifier) sucking, airway obstruction by tonsils and
adenoids, dental disease or premature loss of primary (baby) or permanent
teeth. Whether inherited or acquired, many of these problems affect not
only alignment of the teeth but also facial development and appearance as
well.
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.
Why is orthodontic treatment important?
Crooked and crowded teeth are hard to clean and maintain. This may
contribute to conditions that cause not only tooth decay but also eventual
gum disease and tooth loss. Other orthodontic problems can contribute to
abnormal wear of tooth surfaces, inefficient chewing function, excessive
stress on gum tissue and the bone that supports the teeth, or misalignment
of the jaw joints, which can result in chronic headaches or pain in the face
or neck.
When left untreated, many orthodontic problems become worse.
Treatment by a specialist to correct the original problem is often less costly
than the additional dental care required to treat more serious problems that
can develop in later years.
The value of an attractive smile should not be underestimated. A pleasing
appearance is a vital asset to one's self-confidence. A person's self-esteem
often improves as treatment brings teeth, lips and face into proportion. In
this way, orthodontic treatment can benefit social and career success, as
well as improve one's general attitude toward life.
We offer free orthodontic consultations.
Children and adults can both benefit from orthodontics, because healthy
teeth can be moved at almost any age. Some orthodontic problems may be
easier to correct if treated early. Waiting until all the permanent teeth have
come in, or until facial growth is nearly complete, may make correction of
some problems more difficult.
An orthodontic evaluation at any age is advisable if a parent, family dentist
or the patient?s physician has noted a problem.
What causes orthodontic problems (malocclusions)
Most malocclusions are inherited, but some are acquired. Inherited
problems include crowding of teeth, too much space between teeth, extra
or missing teeth, and a wide variety of other irregularities of the jaws, teeth
and face.
Acquired malocclusions can be caused by trauma (accidents), thumb,
finger or dummy (pacifier) sucking, airway obstruction by tonsils and
adenoids, dental disease or premature loss of primary (baby) or permanent
teeth. Whether inherited or acquired, many of these problems affect not
only alignment of the teeth but also facial development and appearance as
well.
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.
Why is orthodontic treatment important?
Crooked and crowded teeth are hard to clean and maintain. This may
contribute to conditions that cause not only tooth decay but also eventual
gum disease and tooth loss. Other orthodontic problems can contribute to
abnormal wear of tooth surfaces, inefficient chewing function, excessive
stress on gum tissue and the bone that supports the teeth, or misalignment
of the jaw joints, which can result in chronic headaches or pain in the face
or neck.
When left untreated, many orthodontic problems become worse.
Treatment by a specialist to correct the original problem is often less costly
than the additional dental care required to treat more serious problems that
can develop in later years.
The value of an attractive smile should not be underestimated. A pleasing
appearance is a vital asset to one's self-confidence. A person's self-esteem
often improves as treatment brings teeth, lips and face into proportion. In
this way, orthodontic treatment can benefit social and career success, as
well as improve one's general attitude toward life.
We offer free orthodontic consultations.
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