A child has a malocclusion

The owners of a correct bite can be called lucky, because the overwhelming number of people have orthodontic anomalies of varying degrees of complexity. Interestingly, the preconditions for the development of problems with the bite can be determined at a very early age (as early as 2 - 3 years), but not all parents take their child to an orthodontist even when there are clear signs of problems with the dentoalveolar apparatus. Startsmile tells about diagnosis of malocclusion in children, possible treatment options for different age groups, as well as complications that can result from lack of timely treatment.

Correct and incorrect bite of teeth in children

We often hear the phrase "malocclusion", but not all of us know that this is only a general definition for orthodontic anomalies, of which there are many. In terms of specific varieties, there are five types of malocclusion in children (as well as adults).

Types of malocclusion in children

• Distal bite. The lower jaw is located to the rear relative to the upper jaw.

• Mesial bite. The child has an incorrect bite, the lower jaw is forward protruding. Such a bite is called mesial bite. When the lower jaw is much more developed than the upper jaw.

• Crossbite or scissor bite. Less common, but very unpleasant dentoalveolar anomaly. In a crossbite in a certain place the jaws close in an inverse ratio - they close in reverse, which makes the tooth row resemble scissors.

• Deep bite. A very common type of malocclusion in children and adults, when the upper teeth cover the lower teeth more than half.

• Open bite. One of the most complex anomalies, causing physical and psychological discomfort to the child. The upper and lower teeth can not completely close, because of which a noticeable gap is formed between them.

Above we described how the wrong bite looks in a child in various manifestations, but it is necessary to briefly talk about the correct one, which can be perceived as a certain benchmark. The ideal bite is considered orthognathic. It is characterized by an absolutely even tooth row without gaps, curvature and crowding, when the upper teeth cover the lower ones by one third. There are several varieties of a proper bite, but if your child has teeth row defects, it almost always indicates a problem.

How can you tell if a child has an improper bite?

"How do I know if my child has a bad bite?" - is a question many parents ask. It is important to realize that only an experienced pediatric orthodontist can make an accurate diagnosis, so we strongly advise you to have regular checkups with this specialist from a very young age until the baby teeth are replaced by molars. If the baby teeth are too close to each other, it can also become an additional complication when the molars erupt (the latter take up more space because they are larger). In the case of a young child (up to 3 years old), it is difficult to be guided by purely visual principles and determine by eye whether the bite is correct or incorrect. Be that as it may, there are a number of signs that directly or indirectly indicate that the child has preconditions for orthodontic anomalies.

Irregular breathing

The child's mouth is constantly in a half-open position, he does not breathe through the nose (of course, if there are no colds).

Snoring

If the baby constantly snores in sleep, this can also be one of the consequences of the development of an incorrect bite.

Formation of the jaw

Pay attention to how your baby's jaws are forming. Ideally, there should be no noticeable disproportion between the upper and lower jaws. Also, if the child is constantly pushing the lower jaw forward, it is considered a clear sign of bite problems in children.

Posture disorders

If your child has problems with their posture and spine, it can affect the development of bite abnormalities.

Causes of malocclusion in children

The causes of malocclusion in children can vary, and most of them are difficult to affect without orthodontic treatment. Below you can see a list of key causes of such anomalies in a child.

Genetics. If you are wondering why your child has a bad bite, look at yourself first. Genetic predisposition is the most obvious and common cause of a child's malocclusion. If one or both parents have pronounced anomalies, it is very likely that their children will inherit them.

Harmful habits. Children often chew and send into the mouth literally everything that falls under their hands. Often such a craving provokes a violation of the formation and development of teeth. Improper bite in a child from a pacifier is also quite common.

Violation of breathing. Children with a violation of nasal breathing are much more likely to suffer from a wrong bite, as experts assure.

Problems with the musculoskeletal system. The spine is the main "supporting structure" of our body, so it is not surprising that the functioning of the musculoskeletal system affects the dentoalveolar system.

Other diseases. In the risk group (meaning a bite disorder) also include children with diabetes mellitus and CNS diseases.

Treatment of malocclusion in children

What to do if the child has a wrong bite? Of course, start treatment immediately! Unlike adults, in whom a malocclusion can be corrected only with braces or eliners (and in severe cases, surgery is often necessary), the treatment of bite anomalies in children is carried out in various ways. The technique depends on the age of the child and the specific clinical case. The table below shows the possible treatment techniques for children of different age groups.

Incorrect bite in a child under one year of age

Very young children (up to 1 year) it is important to choose special orthodontic pacifiers for feeding, and also try to refuse pacifiers, which can adversely affect the development of teeth.

Incorrect bite in a child at 1 - 2 years of age

At this age, the baby's milk teeth are beginning to erupt actively, so the baby can already be taken to an orthodontist. When there is a potentially incorrect bite in a one-year-old child, special plates for the teeth are often required, which reduce the likelihood of bite abnormalities due to the habit of chewing on various objects.

Irregular bite in a child between 3 and 7 years of age

At the age of 3, a child usually has fully erupted all milk teeth, so if necessary, you can start correcting orthodontic problems. At this age, removable plates, trainers and LM-activators are commonly used to correct the bite, which are designed to align, widen or narrow the tooth row, as well as to improve diction.

Improper bite in a child 8 - 9 years old

8 - 9 years of age is considered a borderline age, when there is an active replacement of baby teeth with molars. Here it is important that the process goes as smoothly and successfully as possible. For the correction of the dentition can be used all the same trainers and plates, as well as special orthodontic appliances that provide the correct interaction of the elements of the dentoalveolar system, including muscles and soft tissues.

Improper bite in a child 10 - 11 years old

At the age of 10, many children's teeth are completely renewed, so this age is considered the minimum acceptable age to begin wearing braces. Today, orthodontics also widely used and eliners - removable transparent mouth guards to correct the bite.

Consequences of an incorrect bite in a child

Unfortunately, it is still not uncommon for parents to be unaware of the dangers of an improper bite in children and to treat their dental health rather irresponsibly. Over time, a child develops bite abnormalities that carry over into adulthood. In childhood, the teeth are much more mobile and well perceive the directed mechanical impact, while the correction of the bite in an adult is a much more complex and lengthy process. Moreover, adults are much less likely to accept treatment because of the associated inconvenience and limitations, which over time leads to a number of complications and unpleasant consequences. Improper bite leads to malfunctioning of muscles and joints of the entire dentoalveolar system, which causes characteristic clicking, spasms and pain that spreads to adjacent departments and leads to migraines, hearing loss and other unpleasant manifestations. Improper temporomandibular joint function in turn often leads to apnea (sleep disordered breathing), which is an additional factor in cardiovascular diseases and leads to much more unfortunate consequences.

What is the danger of a malocclusion in children from a psychological point of view? If a child has serious anomalies, it will certainly affect his/her self-esteem (especially in adolescence and adulthood). In the modern world, a smile is perceived as an integral part of the image of a healthy and successful person, so the issue of aesthetics in this case is also very important. As you can see, everything in our body is interconnected, so never postpone orthodontic treatment, especially since in childhood any problem is corrected more easily and quickly.