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Early Warning Signs of Orthodontic Problems
Some early warning signs of orthodontic problems may be easier to correct if treated sooner rather than later. Waiting until all the permanent teeth have come in, or until facial growth is nearly complete, may make correction of some orthodontic problems more difficult. But…children and adults can both benefit from orthodontics, because healthy teeth can be moved at almost any age. It is not unusual to begin correcting orthodontic problems if one or more of the following early warning signs is seen:
- Difficulty in chewing or biting
- Chronic mouth breathing
- Finger sucking or other oral habits that continue after 6 years of age
- Top front teeth that protrude
- Top front teeth cover more than 25% of the bottom teeth when biting
- Top front teeth go behind the bottom teeth when biting
- A space exists between top and bottom front teeth when biting
- Crowded, overlapped, misplaced teeth or extra teeth
- Teeth meet abnormally or don’t meet at all
- Center of top and bottom teeth don’t line up
- Teeth wearing unevenly
- Baby teeth falling out too early
- Jaw joints that click or are painful
- Jaws that shift off center when biting
- Speech difficulty
- Biting the cheek or roof of the mouth often
- Weak chin or a prominent chin
- Facial imbalance
- Jaws that protrude or recede
- Grinding or clenching of the teeth
- Embarrassing teeth or smile often hidden by hands
If you or your child has one or more of these early warning signs of orthodontic problems, see your dentist or orthodontist. The sooner you receive orthodontic intervention for these alignment problems, the sooner you can light up a room with your smile!
If you know of someone who has one of these early warning signs please take the time to refer them to SmileMaker Orthodontics to see Dr. Jay Burton, a member of the American Association of Orthodontists and is board certified by the American Board of Orthodontics. He takes great pride in helping people achieve a beautiful smile in Hendersonville, Madison, Goodlettsville and Nashville, TN. You can contact our office at (615) 865-6551 or email us at braces@smilemaker.com.[/fusion_text]