Crowding is very common in children during the development of permanent dentition and must be addressed early so that sufficient space for the permanent teeth can be established.
Length of treatment 10 months
Front open bite often develops in children who have a thumb sucking habit. There is also no overlap between the upper and lower front teeth. This is a severe problem if not addressed at an early age. As an adult patient, a surgical approach may be needed to get ideal correction. The habit needs to be stopped, preferably prior to the eruption of the front permanent teeth.
This patient has a cross bite on the left side, where the upper back teeth are inside the lower teeth. This needs to be corrected quickly as it can cause shifting of the jaw. Patient’s lower jaw is to the left initially to compensate for the cross bite. The midlines align once the bite is corrected. This is difficult to correct at a later age. Length of treatment: 15 months
The presence of an under bite (upper teeth inside the lower teeth) is a very serious problem in a child. Prolonged function in the under bite position can hinder the development of the upper jaw during growth. Future surgical correction might be required if the problem is not addressed in time. Length of treatment: 12 months.
Deep bite, which is a complete overlap of the lower teeth with the upper teeth, is also common in children. Sometimes the correction can be as simple as wearing a retainer, or placing some partial braces. It is best to correct the problem early so that the lower jaw can be free to grow to its normal size and is not locked behind the upper teeth.
In some kids the upper permanent front teeth will space out as their erupt. This can present a problem for the eruption of other teeth since they will take some of the space needed for other teeth. Treatment sometimes is needed early to provide the proper spacing for the remaining teeth. Treatment length: 10 months
There are many issues that could inhibit healthy dental development in kids and teenagers. Many of the children that Dr. Vaysman sees have one or more of the following:
Cross Bite - This occurs when the upper teeth on one side fall inside the lower teeth on the same side when the patient closes his or her mouth. This problem needs to be corrected as it can lead to a shifting in the jaw’s alignment. The treatment for this issue usually lasts approximately 15 months, and is harder to correct later in life so it’s imperative to have it done sooner rather than later.
Crowded Lower Arch - In order to allow all permanent teeth to develop and align in their proper place, treatment for crowding is a necessity for your child. Treatment usually lasts approximately 10 months, but results in a healthy smile.
Deep Bite - This type of misalignment occurs when the top teeth completely eclipse the bottom teeth so that they are not visible when the mouth is closed. Because children’s jaws are still developing, this is a common occurrence in patients. It is important to fix early so that the lower jaw can grow to its full potential, and it can usually be done with braces or a retainer.
Open Bite - If your child sucks his or her thumb, then they are more prone to develop this type of bite, which leaves no overlap in the top or bottom teeth at the front of the mouth. For children, this can be corrected as long as the child is no longer a thumb sucker.
Spacing of the Front Teeth - When baby teeth are lost and adult teeth arrive, sometimes the new set of teeth will shift out of alignment. This can make it difficult for other teeth to appear, and in some cases early intervention treatment is needed.
Under Bite - An under bite is a misalignment of the teeth and jaw so that the top teeth sit behind the bottom teeth when the mouth is closed. If your child’s teeth are allowed to rest this way for a prolonged amount of time, it could result in prohibited jaw development. Like an open bite, if it is not corrected in time, surgery to fix the problem later in life may be necessary.