Tommy was very quiet when you picked him up at day camp today. Some kids, he says, called him “buck tooth”. You hugged and reassured him that they were just mean kids that do not understand that his face is changing due to normal growth and very soon his beautiful and healthy adult teeth will be replacing all his baby teeth. However, you noticed that Tommy’s central incisors stick out a bit too far, and you expressed your concerns to his pediatric dentist. You fear the possibility of Tommy breaking those teeth during rough play, or during a soccer game. You are also concerned about the effect of Tommy’s appearance on his psychological well being? Is he going to be shy all the time? Is he going to put his hand in front of his mouth anytime he smiles? Does the position of his teeth affect his speech? Overall you ask yourself, is this a normal developmental stage? And, if it is a temporary stage should you intervene to avoid some psychological or social scarring of your little one?
The American Association of Orthodontics recommends that every child at age 7 be seen by an orthodontist. There are good reasons for this recommendation. At age 7, your kid’s dentition is at an early transitional stage: the adult first molars have erupted behind the baby molars and the anterior teeth, the incisors, are slowly making their way into your child’s smile. This is a time when the orthodontist can easily recognize abnormal growth and bite problems, such as lack of space (crowding) or narrow jaws. This is also the age when using simple removable appliances (not braces) can help create the space to accommodate those larger permanent adult teeth. In addition, your child will be growing a lot in the coming years so appliances (other than braces) can be used to modify growth in a more favorable direction
While this transitional dentition stage is known as the “ugly duckling” stage, this term refers to the visibly missing teeth in your child’s smile and not a more severe jaw problem that if diagnosed and treated early can be corrected. To help you get a good sense of your child’s bite problems I created an easy “Bite & Smile“ check list. So grab a pencil and take a closer look at your child’s smile.
>>>Bite & Smile Check List>>>
-Do your child’s front teeth stick out too far?
-Do your child’s front teeth cover the lower too much?
-When your child’s back teeth touch can he/she stick their tongue in between the front teeth?
-Is there too little or too much room for your child’s teeth?
If you answered yes to any one of the questions on the checklist then most likely your child will benefit from early interceptive orthodontics also referred to as “early treatment”. If you think your child can benefit from early treatment please take the time to do some research, and learn more about the orthodontists in your area. Call or visit their offices and ask about their treatment philosophies. It can also be helpful to speak with other mom’s about their child’s experience with early treatment. Most moms will share information or can refer you to an orthodontist that will help create a smile for your little one that will last a lifetime.
For more information on this and other orthodontic related topics you can contact the American Association of Orthodontics by visiting www.braces.org.
Written by Dr. Cristina Teixeira
Cristina Teixeira, DMD, MS, PhD is a Board Certified Orthodontist. She is an Associate Professor at New York University College of Dentistry (NYUCD), with a dual appointment in the Department of Orthodontics and the Department of Basic Science and Craniofacial Biology. She conducts research on bone growth and development, and maintains an NIH funded laboratory at NYUCD. Her Orthodontic practice, CTNP Orthodontics, is located at 79 Hudson Street, Suite 400, Hoboken NJ. For more information, you are welcomed to call the office 201 714 9800 or visit online www.ctnporthodontics.com.