Orthodontics is not just about creating a beautiful smile. It is about creating a healthy bite that will benefit the child for the rest of their life. Orthodontists are trained as dentists and have an additional three years of full-time specialist training so they can provide the highest standard of care for you and your family.
At Mehta Orthodontics in Sydney, we recommend seeing children at 7 to 8 years old, while they are growing, including the growth of the jaw bones and baby teeth are being replaced by larger permanent teeth. It will allow our team to detect if there are any early orthodontic or developmental jaw issues which need to be addressed.
Contact our friendly team at Mehta Orthodontics if you or your child have any of the following issues.
Crowding
This occurs when there is not enough space to fit all the teeth in the mouth. It can be caused by small jaws or large teeth. Depending on the situation, early intervention may be indicated.
Spacing
This is the opposite problem to crowding and can occur if there are small teeth relative to the jaw size, or when teeth are missing for some reason.
Abnormal eruption of teeth
When a tooth erupts through the gum in the wrong position, this is known as abnormal eruption of teeth. This can cause problems in the future and can result in potentially more complex treatments if not detected early.
Underbite
An underbite is when the lower front teeth bite in front of the upper front teeth. This is usually caused by a problem with the growth of the jaws – either the upper jaw is too small or the lower jaw is too large. Detecting and treating the problem early may reduce or eliminate the need for surgery.
Increased overjet
This is the opposite of an underbite and occurs when the top teeth are significantly in front of the lower teeth so there is a gap between the upper and lower front teeth. The front upper teeth often protrude and are at increased risk of trauma. This can be caused by a problem with the growth of the jaws – usually the lower jaw is too small. If treated early in some cases it may reduce the risk of trauma to the front teeth and may also reduce the need for surgery.
Deep bite
A deep bite is where the upper front teeth cover too much of the lower teeth when the child bites together. This can cause permanent wear of the adult teeth or trauma to the upper gum as the lower teeth may bite into the roof of the mouth.
Open bite
This is where the back teeth bite together but front teeth don’t, so there is a gap between top and bottom teeth. In children, this is often caused by sucking habits such as thumb, finger or pacifier sucking.
Crossbite
A crossbite is when an upper tooth bites inside of the lower teeth. This can be caused by a tooth being in the incorrect spot or if the upper jaw being too narrow. If left untreated it can result in excessive wear on the adult teeth. A narrow upper jaw is one of the most common problems we see and it is best treated in children as they still have growth remaining to allow expansion of the upper jaw.
How can we help?
We are here to answer any of your questions. Please contact Dr Mehta and his staff on 88834444 and check out the link below:
https://mehtaorthodontics.com.au/orthodontic-problems/
