Orthodontic Evaluations

Tampa, Florida

Did you know that orthodontic evaluations are recommended while your child still has baby teeth? The reason is that pediatric dentists can anticipate how the permanent teeth will come in well before all the primary teeth fall out. At Reef Kids Dental, we are all about laying the groundwork for a lifetime of healthy, beautiful smiles.

When Should Your Child Have an Orthodontic Evaluation?

The American Association of Orthodontists recommends an orthodontic screening no later than age 7. Many developmental concerns of the teeth and jaw may be diagnosed and corrected early on while your little one's developing jawbones are still malleable and responsive to treatment.

If we identify any orthodontic problems, we may refer your child to an orthodontist for further evaluation and intervention. While some bite problems are best treated after all the permanent teeth are in, others show better outcomes when treated early on. Early orthodontic treatment can guide skeletal and dental growth in a healthy direction, eliminating or reducing the need for complex orthodontic treatments down the road.

What Are Signs of Orthodontic Problems?

Signs your child may have an orthodontic problem include the following:

Finger or thumb sucking habits
Premature or delayed baby teeth loss
Mouth breathing (especially at night time)
Crooked, misplaced, overlapped, or crowded teeth
A misaligned bite
Difficulty chewing or biting
Jaws that click, pop, or shift when opening or closing the mouth
Protruding teeth
Teeth that meet in an abnormal way
Upper and lower jaws that don't line up
Teeth grinding and clenching (bruxism)

If you see any of these signs, make sure to contact our office to schedule an evaluation. The earlier your child gets any necessary treatment, the better the outcomes.

What Are Space Maintainers?

One of the most important roles baby teeth play is saving space needed for the permanent teeth to erupt in just the right places. If your child loses a baby tooth prematurely due to trauma or extensive decay, the neighboring teeth may shift toward the gap, leading to crowded teeth and problems with the bite. That can interfere with the alignment of the adult teeth when it's time for them to come in.

Depending on the location of the lost tooth, we may recommend placing a space maintainer. As the name implies, the oral device is designed to help maintain the space left by the missing tooth, helping its adult replacement have the space needed to come in the correct alignment. Space maintainers have been shown to significantly lower the need for future orthodontic treatments. Every case is unique, depending on factors such as age, teeth remaining, tooth missing, developmental stage, and compliance.