My Young Child’s Teeth Are Extremely Crooked: Should I Be Concerned?

As a parent, you want the best for your kids in every aspect of their life, including their teeth. But what should you do when your child’s teeth are crooked? Should you worry, or is it something you can watch to see how it changes as they grow?

At Lovely Smiles Orthodontics, Dr. Nicole Thompson offers orthodontic care to kids of all ages and adults. If you’re concerned about your child’s teeth, Dr. Thompson provides compassionate care and expert treatments to ease your mind and help your child feel their best.

Do crooked baby teeth matter?

Baby teeth are the first teeth that come in during the first few years of your child’s life. Although these teeth aren’t permanent, they set the stage for the rest of your child’s dental health and adult teeth.

While not every child’s teeth are straight, extreme problems with their teeth or bite can lead to issues with their permanent teeth. Unfortunately, genetics and heredity are common causes of crooked teeth, meaning you cannot always do much.

However, thumb sucking and overuse of a pacifier can lead to issues with your child’s teeth, especially when it continues after age five. These habits can lead to tooth problems in both baby and permanent teeth.

Just because your child has crooked baby teeth doesn’t mean their permanent teeth will be crooked. But if your child’s baby teeth come in crowded, it’s more likely their adult teeth will also come in that way.

Crooked teeth do matter, even in children. If your child has crooked teeth, they’re harder to clean. Improper brushing in the early years can lead to decay and possible loss of baby teeth earlier than expected.

Your child can then have permanent teeth that come in crooked as well, leading to more issues with cavities and decay. Misalignment can also lead to problems with speech and self-esteem issues.

The facts on early orthodontics

Unsurprisingly, orthodontic problems typically don’t correct themselves, especially when there’s an early issue. At the first sign of a problem with your child's teeth, you should make an appointment with an orthodontist.

It’s never too early to seek orthodontic care for your child as long as they have their teeth. Having your child’s teeth evaluated at the first sign of a problem is a good idea. Some of the orthodontic issues Dr. Thompson helps with include:

• Crowded teeth
• Large spaces in between teeth
• An abnormal bite
• Missing teeth
• Extra teeth
• Crossbites
• Underbites

Dr. Thompson also evaluates jaw issues like a functional shift, where one side of the jaw shifts when your child puts their teeth together. She also helps with problems caused by excessive thumb sucking or pacifier use.

When your child has crooked teeth, Dr. Thompson evaluates their oral health and takes X-rays to see what’s happening under their gums. She uses this information to develop a treatment plan to improve your child's oral health and teeth alignment.

What are the treatment options?

Dr. Thompson takes the time to evaluate your child’s teeth to determine the best treatment method for their specific problem. Your child’s first experiences at the orthodontist are critical to the success of their dental care.

Early orthodontic treatment is the key to helping your child’s jaw develop appropriately and making space for incoming permanent teeth. Dr. Thompson offers several orthodontic treatments, including braces and clear aligners.

The first step occurs before your child’s permanent teeth come in. Dr. Thompson takes the time to address issues with your child’s baby teeth to help shape their future permanent teeth.

Your child may need multiple appointments over a year to allow Dr. Thompson to take specific measures to provide your child with a proper bite. She takes the time to evaluate your child’s progress and makes changes where needed.

After your child’s permanent teeth come in, she can offer the second stage of treatment, which involves braces or aligners to guide your child’s teeth into the correct position. The length of treatment depends on the severity of your child’s crooked teeth or misalignment.

To schedule your child’s orthodontic appointment, call our office in Richmond, Texas, today at 832-219-7687 or request a consultation with Dr. Thompson on the website.