When Should I Correct My Child's Overbite?

by | May 4, 2016 | Uncategorized

Many children have overbites, which leads parents to wonder when they should take them to an orthodontist to be corrected, and if correcting it is even necessary. Unfortunately, overbites need to be corrected and the sooner it’s fixed, the better. Leaving overbites untreated can lead to developmental problems and can potentially damage the teeth.

Evaluating your child’s overbite

patient who needs to correct overbiteYou should begin evaluating your child’s teeth as young as the age of 5. This is so you can be aware of a developing overbite. When your child has an overbite, the teeth are unable to fit together correctly. When an overbite continues to develop it can cause a number of problems for your children, such as difficulty chewing food, headaches, ear pain, jaw pain, facial pain, sinus congestion, and neck problems. It is suggested that a child with an overbite should see their orthodontist before the age of 8 to prevent it from worsening.

Why you should treat your child’s overbite early

The earlier you can treat your child’s overbite the better they will be able to continue to develop. It can also help prevent your child from going through more extensive treatments if the overbite continues to worsen. Depending on the severity of the overbite, letting it go untreated can cause the following problems:

  • Speech impediments
  • Problems eating
  • Upper anterior teeth gradually breaking down anterior lower teeth
  • Lower teeth cutting into the upper gums or the roof of the mouth
  • Pain within the jaw and gums
  • Worn tooth enamel and increased risk of cavities and gum disease
  • Teeth grinding
  • Lowered self esteem or confidence

How overbites are treated

Because children’s mouths and jaws are still developing, treating an overbite isn’t very complicated. For adults who have mature jaw bones and gums, there are fewer treatment options.
In treating a child’s overbite, they will take molds and x-rays to determine what exactly is causing the bad bite. Corrective methods are then usually braces or braces with other appliances that will correct the bite and straighten the teeth.
Make an appointment to speak to your child’s orthodontist about overbite treatments!

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