Conventional Orthodontics

There are many reasons children need orthodontic care. When children lose their baby teeth, their permanent teeth don't always come in straight. Reasons may include:

• Genetics: For lots of folks, crooked teeth run in the family. Teeth may come in twisted, rotated, gapped or overlapping.
• A small mouth: If a child's mouth is too small, the larger adult teeth may crowd each other out, making them crooked.
• Misaligned teeth (malocclusion): Permanent teeth don't always line up when they come in. Malocclusions are normal and some may not require treatment at all.
• Misaligned jaw: Sometimes, a child's upper jaw and lower jaw are different sizes. A small lower jaw can cause an over bite, while a small upper jaw may result in an under bite.
• Prolonged pacifier use, thumb sucking or tongue-thrusting: Bad habits can cause bite problems such as upper teeth that stick out in front of the lower ones.
• Accidents: If a growing child's teeth are broken or knocked out, permanent teeth may fuse to the surrounding bone. This often results in an irregular bite.
• Early loss of baby teeth: If your child loses a primary tooth prematurely, his adult tooth won't have a guide when it comes in. This can lead a tooth to "drift," causing it to tilt, crowd other teeth or only come in partially.