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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| General Cosmetic and Family Dentistry with Quality Care and a Gentle Touch Offering the following Services Invisalign, Braces, Crowns, Bridges, Veneers, Dental Implants, Teeth Whitening, Zoom Whitening, Dentures, Gum Treatment, Root Canals, Fillings, Extractions and more. |