It’s not always easy to tell when you or your child has an orthodontic problem. Even teeth that look straight may be hiding an unhealthy bite. At Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics we evaluate and monitor the dental and skeletal development of our patients at every appointment to ensure if treatment is indicated it is initiated at the appropriate time for the appropriate reasons.

Some of the clues that may indicate the need for orthodontic attention are:

 

• Early or late loss of baby teeth

• Difficulty in chewing or biting

• Breathing through the mouth

• Thumb-sucking

• Crowded, misplaced or blocked-out teeth

• Jaws that are too far forward or back, or shifted to one side

• Protruding teeth

• Upper and lower teeth that don’t meet, or meet in an abnormal way

• An unbalanced facial appearance

• Grinding or clenching of the teeth

• Gum recession

• Wearing down of teeth