Your child should visit a dentist near Leander, TX every six months for professional teeth cleanings and dental checkups. Your family dentist can provide full exams and x-rays to determine if he must fix your child’s teeth with braces or other orthodontic devices. Here are some of the key signs that your child may need to visit a dentist for braces.
Irregular Loss of Baby Teeth
Most children begin losing their baby teeth between the ages of four and seven. It can take up to six years for all of a child’s baby teeth to fall out and for new teeth to grow in. The teeth typically fall out in the order in which they first came into the mouth, so it’s important for you to monitor your child’s missing teeth for this reason. The basic pattern for the loss of baby teeth is the two bottom front teeth fall out first, followed by the two top front ones, and then the lateral incisors, first molars, canines, and second molars. If these teeth fall out too early, too late, or in a strange order, you should make an appointment with your pediatric dentist for a dental checkup.
Thumb Sucking or Irregular Breathing
Regular thumb sucking can cause a child’s front teeth to protrude unnaturally. The longer and more persistently your child sucks his thumb or fingers, the more likely he or she is to need braces or another type of orthodontic device. If your child consistently breathes through his or her mouth, this may be another warning sign that he or she should visit a pediatric dentist for a dental checkup.
Poor Appearance of Teeth
The most obvious sign that your child needs braces is the poor appearance of his teeth. If your child’s teeth protrude forward, if the jaw is out of proportion with the rest of his face, or if he has crooked, overcrowded, or missing teeth or teeth that meet abnormally or not at all, he may need braces. Schedule a dental checkup as soon as possible so that his pediatric dentist can perform an exam and take x-rays.