Children with dental deformities, early intervention is more effective

Children's smiles are innocent, and their neat and white teeth make them even more adorable. However, some children's facial beauty and oral health are affected by malocclusion. Malocclusion not only affects children's self-confidence, but may also have adverse effects on oral function, pronunciation, and even overall health. Therefore, early intervention is essential to correct malocclusion.

1. The hazards and causes of dental and jaw deformity

Dentomaxillary deformity refers to uneven tooth arrangement, abnormal relationship between upper and lower dental arches, and abnormal size, shape and position of the jaw. Common dentomaxillary deformities include crowded teeth, protruding teeth, and crossbite. These deformities not only affect the appearance of the face, but may also affect the normal functions of the oral cavity, such as chewing, pronunciation, and breathing. Dentomaxillary deformity may make it difficult to clean the oral cavity, increase the risk of caries and periodontal disease, and even affect the normal development of the jaw and face shape in severe cases.

There are many causes of malocclusion, including both genetic factors and acquired environmental factors. Genetic factors mainly refer to the fact that the dental and jaw characteristics of parents may be passed on to their children. Acquired environmental factors include bad oral habits, premature loss or retention of deciduous teeth, abnormal eruption of permanent teeth, etc. In addition, some systemic diseases or long-term use of certain drugs may also affect the normal development of the jaw.

2. The Importance of Early Intervention

The development of children's teeth and face is a complex and continuous process. It takes about ten years from the eruption of deciduous teeth to the replacement of permanent teeth. In this process, the development of teeth and jaws is affected by many factors. Therefore, early intervention is of great significance for preventing and correcting dental and jaw deformities.

The core of early intervention is "early". Through early examination and diagnosis, signs of malocclusion can be found in time, so that targeted measures can be taken for intervention. Early intervention can not only prevent the further development of malocclusion, but also reduce the difficulty and cost of subsequent treatment.

For mild malocclusion, early intervention can usually be carried out by correcting bad oral habits, wearing functional appliances, etc. These methods are simple and convenient, with significant effects and little impact on children's daily life. However, for severe skeletal malocclusion, surgical treatment may need to be considered. Although the risk of surgery is high, under the guidance of professional doctors, it can effectively solve the problem of malocclusion.

III. Methods and measures of early intervention

1. Oral habit correction

For younger children, some bad oral habits such as sucking fingers, biting lips, and sticking out tongues may lead to tooth and jaw deformities. Therefore, the first thing to do is to help children correct these bad habits through patient guidance and appropriate education. Parents can promote children to consciously change bad habits by communicating with them and providing positive encouragement.

2. Functional orthodontic appliances

Functional braces are a treatment method suitable for children in the growth and development period. They improve jaw deformities by training the oral and facial muscles and promoting the normal development of the jaw. Functional braces have the advantages of being easy to use and effective, but children need to wear them under the supervision of their parents.

3. Fixed or removable appliances

For mild dental deformities such as uneven teeth, fixed or removable appliances can be used for correction. Fixed appliances such as metal brackets and ceramic brackets are bonded to the teeth and use the deformation and resilience of the archwire to move the teeth to the correct position. Removable appliances can be removed and put on by yourself, which is easy to clean and maintain.

4. Surgical treatment

Severe skeletal malocclusion may require surgical treatment. Surgical methods include orthodontic-orthognathic combined surgery, etc., which fundamentally solve the malocclusion problem by adjusting the position and shape of the jaw. It should be noted that surgical treatment has high risks and needs to be performed under the guidance of a professional doctor.

5. Regular review and adjustment

Regardless of the method used for early intervention, regular review and adjustment are essential. Parents should take their children to professional dental hospitals for regular checkups. Doctors will adjust and optimize the treatment plan based on the child's specific situation to ensure the best treatment effect.

IV. Precautions for early intervention

1. Accurate diagnosis

The premise of early intervention is accurate diagnosis. The doctor needs to conduct a comprehensive assessment of the child's dental and jaw conditions to determine the type and degree of deformity, so as to develop a personalized treatment plan. Parents should actively cooperate with the doctor's diagnosis and provide the child's medical history and related information.

2. Choose the right time for treatment

The best time for early intervention is during the child's growth and development period. At this stage, the child's jaws and teeth are still developing, and proper intervention can promote their normal development. Therefore, parents should take their children to a professional dental hospital for examination as soon as possible so that signs of jaw deformity can be discovered and treated in time.

3. Follow professional guidance

Early intervention needs to be carried out under the guidance of professional doctors. Parents should follow the doctor's instructions and perform operations and care according to the requirements of the treatment plan. At the same time, parents should also pay close attention to their children's oral conditions and communicate with doctors in a timely manner to provide feedback so as to adjust the treatment plan.

4. Maintain oral hygiene

During the early intervention process, it is very important to maintain oral hygiene. Parents should teach their children to develop good habits of brushing their teeth in the morning and evening and rinsing their mouths after meals, and take their children to the hospital regularly for oral cleaning and health care. At the same time, they should also pay attention to dietary hygiene and avoid consuming too much sugar and irritating foods.

5. Psychological counseling and encouragement

Malocclusion may have a certain impact on children's mental health. Parents should pay attention to their children's mental state and provide psychological counseling and encouragement in a timely manner. At the same time, they should also enhance their children's confidence and cooperation in treatment through positive incentives and rewards.

V. Conclusion

We have introduced the hazards and causes of malocclusion, the methods and measures of early intervention, and many matters that need to be paid attention to during the intervention process to ensure the safety and effectiveness of the intervention. Early intervention of malocclusion is not only related to children's oral health and aesthetics, but also to their self-confidence and mental health. Therefore, parents should attach great importance to it and take their children to a professional dental hospital for examination and diagnosis in time. Once a problem is found, appropriate methods should be adopted for intervention and treatment under the guidance of a professional doctor. At the same time, parents should also strengthen their children's oral health education to help them develop good oral habits and lifestyles. Through the care and guidance of parents and the careful treatment of professional doctors, we believe that every child can have a healthy and beautiful smile and confidently welcome a bright future.

Author: Wei Ruidan, Gaobu Hospital, Dongguan City