Why Aren’t My Child’s Baby Teeth Falling Out?

As a parent, it is normal to worry when you see that your child is developing more slowly than other children. One of the most common concerns is when there is a delay in getting their teeth and losing their teeth. However, most of the time, there is no need to worry. Understanding that each body develops differently can help alleviate the worry. In rare cases, the attention of an orthodontist is needed.

When Should Your Child See an Orthodontist

Parents often wonder if it is too early to take their 5 or 6-year-old child for an orthodontic evaluation. Orthodontists would recommend that you take your child whenever you have a concern, no matter how young your child is. This is because an orthodontist can spot development issues early, and he or she can intervene and prescribe the best treatment for your child’s jaw to develop properly and teeth to come in as normal and possible.

Problems With Baby Teeth

Baby teeth serve more than one purpose. Besides chewing, they also reserve space for the permanent teeth, and the permanent teeth are able to fully develop before they erupt. This is why when a baby tooth comes out very early, it is also a concern as space can be lost. This gives the permanent tooth no choice but to come out in a crocked way. In such cases, your orthodontist may recommend that a space maintainer be put where the missing tooth is until the permanent tooth is ready to come out.

When a baby tooth comes out too late, it can also cause the permanent tooth to come out crooked. When a permanent tooth is ready to come out, it will push its way up no matter what. Therefore, if a baby tooth is still there, the new tooth will come up next to it. If this is left untreated, it will not only give your child funny looking teeth, but it can cause other more serious problems as the child grows.

Primary Reasons for A Delay In Losing a Tooth

There are three primary conditions that can be preventing your child’s baby teeth from coming out.

The underlying teeth may be too crowded to push the baby teeth up and out.

There may not be any permanent teeth below the baby teeth.

Too many baby teeth can block the eruption of permanent teeth.

To rule out these possibilities, your orthodontist just has to take an x-ray, and he or she will be able to tell you if there is a serious problem. This way treatment can start early, and you and your child can relax.

Another common reason for a delay in losing teeth is that when baby teeth come in late, the permanent ones will also come in late. There is a wide period of time for what is considered normal for babies to get their teeth and for children to begin losing them. However, Dr. Matt Beecroft and the team at Beecroft Orthodontics recommends an early orthodontic evaluation to ensure your child’s teeth are developing normally, and that there is no problem that will affect the normal eruptive pattern of all your child’s teeth. For further consultation, schedule an appointment with us today.

Beecroft Orthodontics, 10472 Georgetown Dr. Fredericksburg, Virginia

Phone: 540-898-2200

Baby Teeth Guide

Limitations of Early Orthodontic Treatment

Early orthodontic evaluation is the foundation to a lifetime of oral health. Pediatric patients seeking orthodontic treatment in have access to wide range of diagnostic practitioner services.

Why Early Orthodontic Intervention

Most orthodontic specialists acknowledge that patients who receive early orthodontic examination, are less likely to sustain oral health issues later. The aesthetic benefits of early orthodontic treatment are undeniable. Interceptive treatments are is one of the best ways of ensuring that a child’s mouth and dental structure conform to corrective intervention.

For uninterrupted adult tooth growth, early orthodontic treatment is an exceptional measure. Normally performed in a two-step process, teeth straightening is a preventive method of mitigating dental problems such as impacted teeth, and arbitrary growth. While orthodontists have no control over a patients DNA and genetic structure. Limitations in teeth placement and imperfections can be corrected with early preventive intervention.

If a pediatric patient is exhibiting a pronounced over bite or under bite, it is highly probable that this condition is the result of DNA transfer. In the circumstance that a dental feature requires more than a two phase correction process, more extensive interceptive or corrective treatment may be recommended.

Phase 1 and Phase 2 Intervention Plans

Growth stage of a patient will determine prescribed orthodontic intervention. Female patients generally develop dentally up to the age of fifteen, and male patients up to about seventeen years. Early intervention to correct an overbite, is generally conducted prior to teen years.

Phase 1 treatment follow-up in phase 2 may be recommended if the condition has only been partially corrected, or shows signs of re-appearance. The standard diagnostic recommendation for under bite treatment, is normally postponed to the early 20’ to ensure that the correction is sustained.

Orthodontic issues caused by environmental factors, such as thumb sucking, mouth breathing, airway obstruction, and tongue posture, can lead to diagnostic recommendation of correction. If the issue is habit induced, temporary delay in treatment for near future analysis may be adequate interception. In order to prevent a relapse of orthodontic care issues caused by habits or environmental exposure, a treatment assigning modification as the solution to the problem may control for worsening of orthodontic problems.

Finally, orthodontic treatment techniques vary. Some cannot be exercised on pediatric patients until permanent teeth growth is complete. Use of functional appliances that require anchoring to a patient’s teeth, will not function until adult tooth formation is in place.

Early Orthodontic Intervention for Future Oral Health

In spite of the limitations to early treatment, the benefits outweigh the disadvantages such as accrued costs. Simplify orthodontic mouth care with early interceptive treatment. Reduce the potential need for extensive surgery later. Conversion of issues early to low level intervention may be followed by self-monitoring treatment plan.

If you are interested in early orthodontic evaluation or braces, contact us at Beecroft Orthodontics for orthodontic treatment in Virginia.

Beecroft Orthodontics, 10472 Georgetown Dr. Fredericksburg, Virginia

Phone: 540-898-2200

A Stitch in Time...