What are some early signs of orthodontic problems?
The following suggestions may be helpful. Look at your child s teeth. If you see crooked teeth, gaps between the teeth or overlapped teeth, your child may need orthodontic treatment. Ask your child to bite all the way down, keeping their lips open. Do the front top teeth line up with the bottom? Do the top teeth protrude out away from the bottom teeth? Do the top front teeth cover more than 50% of the bottom teeth? Are the top teeth behind the bottom teeth? If you see any of these conditions an orthodontist should evaluate your child. Look at the alignment of your child’s jaw. Does the jaw shift off center when your child bites down? If you see any mal-alignment or shifting of the jaw, your child may have a skeletal problem. Other common signs include: • Early or late loss of primary teeth • Difficulty in chewing or biting • Mouth breathing • Finger or thumb sucking habits beyond age 5 • Speech difficulty • Biting the cheek or roof of the mouth • Protruding teeth • Teeth that don t see
