Functional Jaw Orthopedics
If you are concerned with your child’s bite
Or misaligned teeth, you’ve found the perfect place! Dr. Flor is one of the very few Dentists in South Florida with experience on Functional Jaw Orthopedics, your child can start treatment as soon as 3 years old.
Malocclusion is when a child’s teeth become crooked or crowded. The child may also have a problem with his or her bite. That means the teeth of the upper jaw don’t meet normally with the teeth of the lower jaw when the jaw is closed.
First, an orthopedic appliance is inserted into the mouth to move bone. These functional appliances are removable devices which alter the growth of the jawbone to correct many problems such as airway obstruction, mouth breathing, over bites (class II), under bites (class III) and other bone formation pathology. In most cases, the purpose of the appliance is to expand the arch to allow the teeth to fit in, rather than the traditional orthodontist approach of extracting healthy teeth.
Orthopedics Q & A
Q & A
Malocclusion can sometimes be caused by an injury to the jaw. But it’s often the result of many different things. It may be from genes, the environment, or both. Malocclusion can develop as a child grows.
Children who suck their thumbs or fingers after age 5 have a greater chance of developing malocclusion. Children with a very small space between their baby teeth are at risk too. They may have problems with malocclusion when their permanent teeth come in. This is because the permanent teeth are larger and need more space.
A child with malocclusion has crowded or crooked teeth. He or she may also have 1 of these bite problems:
- Overbite. The front teeth in the upper jaw stick out over the teeth in the lower jaw.
- Underbite. The teeth in the lower jaw stick out over the teeth in the upper jaw.
- Open bite. The front teeth don’t meet when the jaw is closed.
- Crossbite. The top teeth sit behind the bottom teeth.
Malocclusion may cause a child to have:
- Problems eating or speaking
- Teeth grinding
- Loss of baby teeth too soon or very late
- Mouth breathing
- Tooth decay
- Gum disease
- Jaw joint problems
- Malocclusion is when a child’s teeth are crooked or crowded. The child may also have a problem with his or her bite.
- Many different things often help lead to malocclusion, such as genes.
- Children older than age 5 who suck their fingers are more at risk for it.
- Malocclusion may cause trouble eating, breathing, and speaking. Some children may also have gum disease and jaw joint problems.
- X-rays and impressions of the teeth can help diagnose malocclusion.
- Treatment may include tooth removal and a mouth appliance.
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