Jaw Narrowing in Children – Preventive Orthodontic Treatment

Tooth Crowding Problems

Tooth crowding can result from genetic factors inherited from family members, as well as from the early or late loss of baby teeth. In addition, certain bad habits in children, such as prolonged use of a bottle or thumb sucking, can also cause dental misalignment in the front teeth.

Crowding in the front teeth

When teeth remain in the mouth longer than the expected eruption time, they may overlap. Baby teeth act as guides for the permanent teeth, and as the permanent tooth emerges, the root of the baby tooth dissolves, causing it to loosen and eventually fall out. If the baby tooth does not fall out naturally, intervention by a dentist is necessary.

Teeth erupting over other teeth

In cases of jaw narrowness and early bite problems, it is possible to expand narrow jaws between ages 8–10. The goal of this treatment is to fully correct space shortages—i.e., crowding of the teeth—at an early age, or to make future orthodontic treatment with braces easier.