08/20/2025
Common signs that may indicate a child needs orthodontic evaluation:
-Early or late loss of baby teeth: Losing baby teeth too early or too late can affect the alignment of permanent teeth.
-Crowded or misaligned teeth: If teeth appear crowded, overlapping, or are not in a straight line, it could indicate a jaw size issue.
-Bite issues: Overbites, underbites, crossbites, and open bites can all cause problems with chewing, speaking, and jaw function.
-Mouth breathing or snoring: These can be signs of airway obstruction, impacting jaw development and sleep.
-Thumb-sucking or pacifier use beyond infancy: Prolonged habits can affect jaw and teeth alignment.
-Difficulty chewing or speaking: Problems with chewing or pronouncing certain sounds can be related to jaw or teeth alignment.
-Teeth that don’t meet or meet abnormally: This can affect how the teeth come together when the jaw is closed.
-Unbalanced facial appearance: Jaw misalignment can affect the overall facial balance.
-Grinding or clenching of teeth: These habits can put stress on the teeth and jaw joints.
-Missing or impacted teeth: Orthodontists can assess the presence and position of all teeth.
-Shifting of the jaw when closing: This could indicate a jaw joint issue or misalignment.
