Bloomsburg, Danville, and Lewisburg, PA
When your child smiles, what do you see? Are his or her teeth crooked? It’s true that many children and adolescents in the United States end up needing orthodontic treatment to straighten their teeth. While this may be inevitable for your child’s future, sometimes, having slightly crooked teeth is just a stage of normal growth and development in a child. When do crooked teeth become a problem? Hamilton Dental Care looks to shed some light on this subject.
Know the causes of crooked teeth in children
A child’s teeth become crooked or crowded when there is not enough available space in the jaws to accommodate the teeth as they emerge from the gum line. It is important to remember that, when teeth erupt, they will follow the path of least resistance. In other words, if they do not have enough space to emerge in straight alignment, they will find another way—even if that way crowds other teeth, or causes an overlap.
When is it normal for a child to have crooked teeth?
Baby teeth don’t always erupt perfectly straight, which usually is not a concern. Crooked teeth can occur as a standard consequence when your child is going through mixed dentition. This is the phase of your child’s oral health when he or she starts getting permanent teeth, while baby teeth still remain. Your child’s teeth may seem oddly shaped or somewhat crooked due to varying sizes of teeth during the mixed dentition process. Also, if baby teeth are not shed or lost before the permanent teeth begin erupting, this could cause tooth misalignment. In the event that your child has a permanent tooth erupting before the preceding baby tooth has been shed, schedule an appointment with your Bloomsburg family dentists at Hamilton Dental Care for an assessment.
What if I don’t do anything about my child’s crooked teeth?
While slightly misaligned teeth can be a normal part of development, it always is best to have your child’s teeth evaluated by the dentist. Don’t just ignore it, and assume the problem will straighten out over time. It is best to have a dentist experienced in orthodontics assess your child’s condition to determine the best course of action.
Living with crooked teeth has consequences that go beyond making a child feel self-conscious about his or her smile. In addition to the aesthetic concerns, the potential impacts include a misaligned bite, which may lead to an uncomfortable bite, making chewing more difficult. Also, crooked teeth can be difficult to keep clean, and are more prone to developing tartar buildup that may lead to cavities and gum disease.
Pediatric Dentistry in Bloomsburg
At Hamilton Dental Care, we can provide complete oral care for patients of all ages. We encourage parents to bring their child in for routine checkups once every six months. This allows the dentists an opportunity to keep an eye on emerging teeth, and ensure your child’s teeth are developing properly. To learn more about our pediatric dental services in Bloomsburg, or to schedule an appointment, please call us at (570) 387-0533.
Hamilton Dental Care is proud to serve the oral health needs of patients in the areas of Bloomsburg, Danville, and Lewisburg in Pennsylvania.
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