7 Signs Your Child May Need Early Orthodontic Intervention

Orthodontic issues, such as crowded or overlapping teeth, often develop just after a child’s permanent teeth come in. 

Many parents assume these issues can be addressed through orthodontic treatment once their child is a teenager. However, early orthodontic treatment makes more sense. 

In fact, the American Association of Orthodontists recommends that all children undergo an orthodontic evaluation by age seven.

At Hendricks Dental Specialists, our orthodontists regularly provide early orthodontic assessments to children living in and around Brentwood, Tennessee.

Read on to discover seven signs your child may benefit from early orthodontic treatment.

1. Early or late loss of baby teeth

All children lose their baby teeth eventually, but when that happens varies significantly. 

If some of your child’s baby teeth come out after some of their permanent teeth have already come in, it can cause the surrounding teeth to move into the empty spaces. That can affect alignment and increase the risk of crowding and tooth damage.

Conversely, if your child’s baby teeth take a long time to come out, their permanent teeth may push against them, increasing the risk of impaction and other complications.

An early orthodontic evaluation can help determine if your child is at risk of either of these scenarios and make treatment recommendations.

2. Crowded or crooked teeth

Sometimes, the process of losing baby teeth and getting permanent teeth leads to crowding or misalignment. These issues often mean your child’s jaw is smaller than average or has limited space for their remaining permanent teeth to come in.

Early orthodontic treatment offers a safe and effective way to create more room, reducing the risk of further complications.

3. Difficulty biting and chewing

Does your child frequently complain that their teeth hurt when they’re eating snacks or meals? While this can happen for various reasons, if it’s a persistent complaint, they may have a bite issue, such as crossbite, overbite, or underbite. 

Early orthodontic intervention can address the problem by improving tooth and bite alignment. In many cases, that provides pain relief, allowing children to eat more comfortably.

4. Mouth breathing

Many children breathe with their mouths instead of their noses. This habit doesn’t always cause issues, but in some cases, it can affect the position of the lips and tongue and place excess pressure on the teeth and jaws. 

If this happens for months or years, it can cause the teeth to change position or increase the risk of bite misalignments.

In some cases, orthodontic treatment helps improve airflow, making it easier to breathe through the nose.

5. Thumb or finger sucking or prolonged pacifier use

Young children often suck their thumbs or fingers or use pacifiers to help them relax or fall asleep. 

There’s nothing to worry about if all your child’s baby teeth are present, but once their permanent teeth start coming in, these activities can affect tooth positioning or interfere with jaw growth.

Early orthodontic treatment can prevent these habits from causing protruding teeth and jaw problems. We can also recommend strategies to help your child break these habits.

6. Jaw clicking, popping, or misalignment

Some parents notice that their child’s jaw pops, clicks, or makes other noises when they’re speaking and eating. These noises happen to almost everyone occasionally, but if it’s an ongoing issue, a jaw misalignment could be responsible.

Early orthodontic treatment supports proper jaw alignment, so these issues don’t become a persistent problem as they grow.

7. A misalignment between the upper and lower teeth

Do your child’s upper teeth protrude over their lower ones when they speak or smile? Or maybe their lower teeth sit in front of their upper teeth? 

Either of these scenarios is a sign of a misalignment, which can affect your child’s speech and comfort and make their teeth more challenging to clean.

Orthodontic treatment offers a proven way to correct these issues by helping guide jaw and tooth development.

See if your child can benefit from early orthodontic treatment

If you’ve noticed any of these signs in your child, don’t wait to schedule an early orthodontic evaluation with our caring team.

After an oral exam, dental X-rays, and a comprehensive orthodontic assessment, our pediatric dentistry team can determine whether braces, Invisalign®, or another type of treatment is appropriate.

To request an appointment for your child, call the Hendricks Dental Specialists office today.