A child’s malocclusion is quite common. There are several ways to correct this problem that modern orthodontics offers.
Manifestations of problems related to the misalignment of the upper jaw and lower jaw in relation to each other are visible to the professional eye from an early age. Timely measures taken allow for the best results in correcting bites in children.
The reasons for the developmental abnormalities of the jaw can vary:
- Heredity.
- Unhealthy habits such as finger sucking and lip biting.
- Early loss of baby teeth. This occurs due to large quantities of sweets, lack of timely therapy and rapid destruction of the first teeth.
- Rejection of solid food at the time of jaw formation and growth. At this point, you should not feed a child only soft, pureed food, it is desirable to give chewing apples, carrots.
- Breathing with the mouth, which is often the result of frequent acute respiratory infections and various ENT-pathologies.
Correction of bite in children is of great importance. Neglecting such a recommendation from the dentist can lead to serious consequences. In addition to aesthetic defects, the deviation in the relationship of the jaw position is fraught with diseases of the teeth and gums, disorders of masticatory functions with subsequent problems of the respiratory system and digestive tract.
How Do You See if a Child Has a Malocclusion?
The need for alignment of the bite in a child arises in the presence of any of the manifestations:
- A protruding row of teeth;
- Backward-facing row of teeth;
- Jaws not closing properly;
- Abnormal position of one or more dental units – rotation;
- Large spaces between teeth;
- Visual irregularity of the dental arch;
- Abnormality in the form of “extra” dental units, called hyperdentia.
All of these symptoms indicate the presence of a pathology associated with abnormal development of the dental rows or jaw arches.
Ways to Correct Bites in Children
There are the following ways to solve the problem of improper bite in a child:
- Myotherapy procedures. This involves training the masticatory and facial muscles through special exercises. An effective way to treat kids – from the age of 4 years.
- Apparatus techniques. Assume the use of various kinds of structures: plates, bracket systems.
- Surgery. Surgical intervention on the jaw.
- Orthopedic method. Installation of veneers.
- Combined variant. A combination of several techniques for bite correction.
Correction of Bite in Children With Removable Dentures
The main purpose of plates is to expand the jaw and then make room for the growth of teeth and their development. Products are created individually for each patient. Their undoubted advantages include affordable cost and speed of production, as well as the ability to maintain hygiene. Finally, by inserting special screws into the plates, a powerful mechanics is created to correct the position of the teeth with high efficiency.
However, you should keep in mind that these systems are removable, so the child can remove them at any time on their own. If worn irregularly, the desired effect will not be achieved.
Elastopositioners as a Way to Correct Bite in Children
This is a large group of mouth guards that are created from silicone. Their main function is to train the muscles and return the lower jaw to the correct position. As you know, the upper jaw is immobile, so the bite features are influenced by the lower jaw. The position of the latter is determined by the condition of the muscles.
Devices in this category have both pluses and minuses. The first ones are hygienic, relatively cheap and can be made quickly, and most importantly – bioinert, so they are suitable even for people with allergies. The advantage of elastopositioning appliances is that the child receives orthodontic treatment unnoticed by others.
Functional Appliances
Functional appliances work through the muscles of the child and have no mechanical power source. They are removable appliances that are highly effective and do not interfere with oral hygiene or eating in the slightest. However, it is necessary to wear them both at home and at school, that is, the maximum amount of time, which is quite difficult to perform because of their cumbersomeness.
Bite Correction in Children With Braces
Bracket system is used in children after 7-8 years of age, as its attachment is performed on two molars and four permanent incisors. With its help, the effect is achieved relatively quickly. Braces are fixed devices, so you do not have to worry that the child will remove them when they go to school. However, this fact entails a number of disadvantages: the difficulty of maintaining hygiene, increasing the likelihood of plaque accumulation and, consequently, an increased risk of cavities and gum problems. Finally, the use of this type of system limits the intake of stiff foods. It must be crushed and shredded.
Care
It is the job of the parents to teach their child the rules of care for the attached structures. Otherwise, there is a high risk of tooth decay. Routine cleaning is the foundation of care. Dentures and braces must be cleaned with a brush designed for that purpose. It does not hurt to buy a special product – a gel or paste.
Braces require special care. The construction should be cleaned after every meal with the help of floss and brushes.
Parents should teach their child the proper care of the braces and monitor closely.
How Can Parents Prevent their Child’s Overbite?
Bite anomalies resulting from genetic predisposition are not preventable. However, there are other factors that contribute to the formation of such disorders. It is possible to combat them:
- It is worth giving preference to breastfeeding – artificial feeding is bad for the bite.
- It is desirable to refrain from using a pacifier or sucking a finger since the baby’s first teeth.
- It is worth watching how the baby breathes – you should only do so through the nose.
- An important rule is regular visits to the dentist.
- Timely detection of bite anomalies will reduce the time it takes to correct them.
