How much do you know about children's orthodontics?

The child's teeth are crooked

what to do?

How to correct it?

What is the appropriate age for correction?

Dental Specialist

Answers for you

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Malocclusion refers to the uneven arrangement of teeth and the disharmony between the jaw and the craniofacial region caused by congenital genetic or acquired environmental factors during the development of children. It is a common oral disease. What people usually call canine teeth, underbite, and buck teeth all belong to this category. Misaligned teeth can easily lead to difficulty in oral hygiene, causing caries, gingivitis, periodontitis, etc. In severe cases, it can also lead to abnormal maxillofacial growth and development and temporomandibular joint diseases, affecting chewing and digestion and absorption, and causing harm to growth and health. In addition, it also affects facial beauty and has an adverse effect on mental health.

Commonly known as "underbite", the lower teeth are located in front of the upper teeth. This is caused by abnormal jaw development and must be corrected as soon as possible.

This refers to the teeth being crowded together, unevenly arranged, and misaligned. Minor misalignments or gaps can be corrected during the tooth replacement process, but severe crowding and misalignment should be treated by a doctor as soon as possible.

This is the opposite deformity of dental crowding, which refers to the presence of gaps in the dentition. It is more common in people with missing teeth or those who are born with small teeth.

Generally speaking, it is normal for the upper front teeth to cover less than 1/3 of the lower front teeth. If it is more than 1/3, it is a deep overbite. The hazards of a deep overbite mainly include excessive tooth wear and temporomandibular joint disorder.

Deep overjet refers to the maximum horizontal distance from the incisor tip of the upper front teeth to the labial surface of the lower front teeth exceeding 3mm, usually accompanied by maxillary protrusion, mandibular retrusion, or both. Deep overjet can lead to buck teeth and also have a certain impact on maxillofacial development.

Among them, maxillary protrusion and mandibular retrusion are common malocclusions in early childhood, which are often manifested as protrusion of upper teeth, short and everted upper lip, open lips and exposed teeth, etc., and need to be corrected as soon as possible.

This is when the front or back teeth do not meet vertically.

This mainly refers to the asymmetry of the jaw, dental arch, face or chin, and the inconsistency of the dental midline. It will affect normal chewing, pronunciation, facial beauty, and cause temporomandibular joint disease.

For simple dental problems, the recommended time for correction is the early stage of permanent teeth, which is around 11 or 12 years old. During this period, children's growth and development are relatively active, permanent teeth are replaced, and the bone remodeling and repair capabilities are better, which is suitable for correction.

However, if a child has problems with bone development, such as an overbite, it is recommended to treat it as soon as possible. Treatment should be started at the age of three for deciduous teeth and seven for replacement teeth. Once the timing is missed and bone development is complete, it will be very difficult to change it with dental braces. It may be necessary to combine orthognathic surgery with treatment in adulthood. For some developmental deformities, such as maxillary protrusion and mandibular retrusion, it is recommended to perform functional correction before the peak of growth and development (around 10 years old).

Doctor's Tip: During the growth and development process, children may also encounter problems with tooth eruption, such as impacted teeth. Parents are advised to take their children to regular medical institutions for oral examinations every year starting from the age of 3 to detect and treat problems early.