As children's baby teeth form their first smiles, you might notice some crowding in early childhood. At our outstanding practice based in Bettendorf and Eldridge, Iowa, we can evaluate your child's smile for the proper orthodontic treatment. Explore the five main ways to address crowded teeth for a stunning smile into adolescence.
Tooth Extraction
One of the simplest ways to address crowded teeth in children is through tooth extraction, suggests the National Library of Medicine. Many children have a mixture of baby and erupting adult teeth during early childhood. Our Bettendorf orthodontist can strategically pull one or several baby teeth to provide enough space for emerging teeth. As a result, the adult teeth have space to erupt without emerging at a crooked angle.
Space Maintainers
Our Bettendorf orthodontist can also add space maintainers to your child's teeth to control crowding. Essentially, a maintainer is a device that clips onto a tooth and holds a gum space open beside it. Installed after losing a baby tooth, this maintainer preserves the open space for the incoming adult tooth. Otherwise, the surrounding teeth might crowd into the open space and impede the adult tooth's progress.
For any questions about early childhood treatment, call Mack Orthodontics today!
Palatal Expanders
Some children have a small palate or upper jaw, which causes their teeth to remain crowded. A solution lies in palatal expanders. Our team can install a device on the upper jaw, which is subsequently adjusted during each appointment. Over time, this device expands the jaw's size to correct the teeth into their proper positions. This device is perfect for early childhood because the palate still grows as the expander takes advantage of this time.
Exposure and Ligation
Crowded teeth might impede new teeth from erupting from the gums. As a solution, our orthodontist can perform an exposure and ligation procedure. This option involves accessing the impacted tooth, adding a chain to its surface, and slowly bringing it down through careful pressure. As the tooth moves into place, it's aligned along the way.
Considering Bad Habits
Addressing crowded teeth also involves lifestyle changes. During early childhood, children may have these habits that can lead to problematic smiles, such as:
- Thumb sucking
- Tongue thrusting
- Nail biting
- Mouth breathing
If you notice these habits extending past the preschool years, working with our Eldridge orthodontist can improve the situation. Habit changes and appropriate orthodontic treatment can solve the crowding issue.
Regular appointments with our Bettendorf orthodontist make orthodontic care easier as your child grows up. From spacers to lifestyle alterations, correcting crowded teeth is possible with orthodontic treatment designed for your distinct needs. Contact Mack Orthodontics today!