To Your Good Health
Orthodontics A Perfect Smile at Any Age
By Leslie Byrne
There’s no denying that a perfectly aligned smile is pleasant to behold, but that’s not all that’s good about it! Misaligned teeth or jaws can lead to oral health problems like tooth decay, jaw pain, gum disease, and even sleep apnea. Crooked teeth can make brushing and flossing challenging by creating hidden or hard-toreach spots in the mouth. When plaque builds up, it can result in bleeding, swelling, cavities, and, ultimately, gum disease. A perfectly aligned bite also benefits the jaw, promoting a lifetime of comfort and helping both natural teeth and restorations last longer. If your tooth alignment is troubling you, an orthodontist can help. When teeth are misaligned, it is called a malocclusion. There are several different types of malocclusion. An overbite is when the upper front teeth stick out significantly more than the lower teeth. An underbite is when is when the lower front teeth are in front of the upper teeth. This can sometimes be caused by a problem with the lower jaw. A crossbite is when the upper teeth fit inside of lower teeth; this mainly affects the back teeth. Overcrowded teeth means that there is not enough room in the mouth to allow the teeth to be aligned. The teeth are pushed in front of or behind other teeth. Any of these malocclusions can be addressed with orthodontic care. The most common patients in an orthodontist’s office are children. The American Association of Orthodontists (AAO)
recommends that a child’s first check-up with an orthodontist be at age seven years. By that time, a child has enough permanent teeth for an orthodontist to evaluate how the teeth and jaw are developing. Orthodontists are trained to spot subtle problems, even in young patients. The outcome of this initial visit varies widely. The orthodontist may say that treatment will not be necessary, that treatment may be needed at an older age, or that there is a problem that is best treated while the child is very young. The purpose of early orthodontic treatment is to avoid problems associated with how the face or jaw bones are growing. A child may need some orthodontic care at age seven or eight and then again a few years later. Most children who wear braces wear them for 18 months to three years. Anyone who has had braces
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