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People
want braces to help them create the smile of their dreams. They
know that a beautiful smile is a priceless, precious asset that
can last a lifetime. Investing in orthodontic treatment today means
you can enjoy the benefits of a super smile for years to come.
It's not just about appearance, either. "Malocclusions"
or "bad bites", can affect the way you chew or talk, and
can even lead to more oral health problems.
EIGHT WARNING SIGNS TO LOOK FOR IN 7-YEAR-OLDS
During your initial ORTHODONTIC CONSULTATION our orthodontic specialist
will look for the answer to the following questions:
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1.
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Do
the upper teeth protrude? Excessive protrusion
(or overbite) of the upper front teeth - "bucked
teeth" - is by
far the most common orthodontic problem. You can test this
by placing a Popsicle stick behind the upper front teeth when
you bite down on your back teeth. If there is plenty of room
for the stick, you probably have more than two millimeters
of space between the upper front teeth and the lower front
teeth. In many patients the lower jaw is retruded giving
the "weak chin" appearance. When "patient records"
are done, the x-ray picture taken of the side view of the
head shows if the upper jawbone is protruding in front of
the lower jawbone.
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2.
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Is
there a deep bite or over-jet? The upper teeth cover
the lower front teeth too much - more than one millimeter of
the lower teeth. In severe cases, the lower front teeth are
totally covered by the upper front teeth when you bite down
on your back teeth.
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3.
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Is
there an underbite? The upper teeth fit inside the
arch of the lower teeth. Usually the lower jaw protrudes or
sticks out farther than the upper jaw giving one the "strong
chin" or "Jay Leno" appearance.
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4.
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Is
there an open bite? You can stick your tongue between
the upper and lower front teeth when the back teeth are together.
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5.
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Is
there too little room for the upper or lower teeth? Do you
see crowded or overlapped teeth?
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6.
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Is
there too much room (spacing or gaps) between the upper or
lower teeth?
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7.
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Do
the front teeth line up? The spaces between the
two upper front teeth and the two lower front teeth should
line up with each other and both should line up with the bridge
of the nose. When they do not, the probable cause is drifted
teeth or a shifted lower jaw, resulting in an improper bite.
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8.
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Is
there a crossbite? The upper back teeth fit inside
rather than outside of the lowers.
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After you've
read the above questions and match the pictures to your own teeth
or jaws, you will be able to determine if you need braces.
Seek
treatment before age seven if your child has:
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Difficulty
chewing
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Open
mouth breathing
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Thumb
or finger sucking
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Overlapping
or crowding of erupting permanent teeth
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Jaws
that click or pop
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Biting
of the cheek or into the roof of the mouth
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Speech
problems
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Grinding
or wearing down of teeth
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Obvious
abnormal bite development of any kind
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When you and/or
your child ask yourselves this question, "Do I like my smile
and my profile?" and the answer is, "NO," then orthodontic
treatment can be one of the best investments you'll ever make. If
you're not sure, ask others you trust to give an honest answer if
they like your smile and profile. If they see any of the conditions
described above, you deserve to get orthodontic treatment.
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This
health article is made available by
Dr. Michael L Stepovich DDS a Orthodontist. Orthodontic office
at 4110 Moorpark Ave, San Jose, CA 95117. Dr. Stepovich is
easy reachable from all of San Jose, Santa Clara, Los Gatos,
Monte Sereno, Saratoga, Cupertino, Campbell, Milpitas, and
Mountain View.
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