Malocclusion in a child: identify and correct it in time!

About a century ago, people did not pay much attention to the health of teeth and treated them mainly on the basis of the fact: if something hurts, we try to heal it or pull it out, and if it doesn’t hurt, then we don’t touch it. Not much attention was paid to irregular teeth. But with the development of science, it became clear: dental defects require correction. Only the correct arrangement of teeth in the mouth protects a person from premature destruction of molars and incisors, overstrain of the facial muscles and nearby joints. But even now, not everyone understands what an incorrect bite leads to and what its danger is. Let's look at 19 of the most popular consequences that await owners of teeth with anomalies.

What is overbite

Bite is the relationship between the lower and upper dentitions with full closure and maximum contact. This is the first parameter that a competent orthodontist evaluates in a child or adult. Basic bite problems can be determined even by eye: the doctor just needs to ask the patient to clench his teeth.

There is a correct (normal, physiological) bite, in which the load on the teeth is uniform, and a pathological one. Malocclusion can develop at any age due to various factors. It greatly affects the body and general condition of a person.

Exercises to correct your bite

After identifying malocclusion in children, the doctor may prescribe myogymnastics. The therapy is aimed at restoring muscle motor activity, training the tongue and lips. To correct a child’s bite, it is necessary to achieve myodynamic balance: the strength of the muscles outside and inside the oral cavity must be equal. The development of facial and dental pathologies can provoke weakening of muscle tissue.

A set of therapeutic exercises:

1. Massage your lower and upper lips with your index finger for 3-5 minutes. The exercise must be repeated several times a day.
2. Connect 2 large buttons with a cord. The child must hold one of them with his teeth, and the second he must pick up and stretch the lace. Do 10 approaches.
3. Pull out your lips with a tube. Forcefully inhale and exhale air through your mouth. Repeat the exercise several times.
4. Purse your lips tightly and draw air into your mouth. Press your fingers on the swollen cheeks, do 5-7 approaches.
5. The lips, stretched out like a tube, should be compressed and unclenched with force. Perform the exercise for 2-3 minutes.
6. Move the lower jaw forward as much as possible, and try to reach the upper lip with your teeth. Fix the position for 2-3 minutes.
7. Place a plastic ruler between your lips and press on the opposite edge with your finger.
8. Hold the plastic card between your lips and hold the position for a few minutes.

Tongue exercises are best done after gymnastics. These include:

• counting teeth from the inside;
• stroking the soft and hard palate with the tongue;
• clicking.

If a child has one or more teeth growing incorrectly, they can be gently pressed with the tip of the tongue from the inside for 2-3 minutes. To strengthen the cheek muscles, the child should take water into his mouth and hold it for several minutes, then spit it out. To practice breathing, experts recommend alternately pinching first the left, then the right nostril.

The technique has age restrictions. Treatment can begin at 3 years of age. Playing the trumpet and other wind instruments and blowing soap bubbles through a plastic tube or straw will help train your muscles.

What kind of bite should a person have?

Physiological or normal occlusion has the following characteristics:

• all teeth of the upper and lower jaws are in contact with each other, with each tooth intersecting with two antagonists. The exception is the third upper molar and the first lower incisor;
• the midline of the face passes between the central incisors;
• there are no gaps between individual elements of the rows;
• The upper dental arch has the shape of a semi-ellipse, the lower - a parabola.

Correct bite on the sides and front

There are also several types of slight changes in the ideal bite, which, although different from each other, do not require correction:

• orthognathic. The upper incisors overlap the lower ones by a third;
• progenic. The lower jaw is slightly protruded;
• straight. The incisors meet with cutting edges;
• biprognathic. The incisors are inclined towards the vestibule of the mouth, but continue to close.

There are three types of normal occlusion, which replace each other over time:

1. Temporary. This is what dentists call baby teeth in children.
2. Removable. This is a condition of occlusion when some of the baby teeth have been replaced by permanent teeth, and some are still present.
3. Constant. All teeth changed from baby teeth to molars.

Problems with a person’s bite can appear at any stage, but baby teeth are much more susceptible to influence: both negative and positive. That is why the process of treating abnormalities in childhood is faster and easier.

Errors in the treatment of mesial occlusion

All mistakes are made due to incorrect treatment planning.

Most often this is expressed in a discrepancy between the level of treatment and the level of the cause of mesial occlusion. For example, if the upper jaw is to blame, the lower jaw is operated on. Or the jaws are to blame (the problem is skeletal), and they are trying to solve the problem “on the teeth” (only with braces). Incorrect determination of the level of the problem occurs when diagnostics are insufficient in scope or incorrect interpretation of diagnostic data. Those. when they try to treat mesial occlusion only on the basis of external signs (essentially “by eye”). Without considering the real reason.

Attempting to control the growth of the lower jaw using a sling.

A very common mistake in the treatment of mesial occlusion in children is an attempt to restrain the growth of the lower jaw using a special sling.

Many people try, but no one has managed to “contain” anything yet. Because you can’t go against nature. She (nature) will still take her course. As much as is genetically determined, so much will grow. But you can easily get complications when using such a sling.

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How to identify malocclusion

In most cases, malocclusions are easily recognized by an experienced doctor during a routine visual examination. But there are situations when part of the row has not yet been cut through. In this case, additional examination may be required to find incorrect teeth and determine whether there is any risk of developing serious pathologies.

Teeth that have not fully erupted are called impacted. Read in detail about them in our article: “What are impacted teeth, why do they appear and how to treat them...”

Malocclusion in adults and children is diagnosed using the following research methods:

• panoramic photograph of the jaw;
• CT scan of the jaw;
• teleroentgenogram (TRG image).

The listed materials provide an experienced doctor with enough information to identify bite problems and create an up-to-date treatment plan.

Different types of bite studies

Types of malocclusion

When the dentist discovers the first signs of malocclusion, he tries to understand what kind of dental problems he has encountered. Depending on the characteristics of the development of specific anomalies, several types of pathological changes in teeth are distinguished.

The most popular is Engle’s system, which distinguishes three classes of violations:

1. Class I: Includes disorders in which the molars are positioned correctly but there is slight crowding, diastema, or other abnormalities.
2. Class II: This includes malocclusions in which the position of the molars shifts and the upper jaw moves forward strongly.
3. Class III: Includes anomalies in which the teeth shift and the mandible moves forward.

Each class may include one or more subclasses, which are distinguished depending on the severity of the disease. It is also customary to distinguish the five most popular types of malocclusion: distal, mesial, deep, open, cross.

Distal bite

With a distal bite, the upper jaw is overdeveloped, while the lower jaw remains small and weak. This results in the upper teeth greatly overlapping the lower teeth. The face acquires a slanted profile when a person’s lips are thin, retracted, and the chin often becomes double.

There are two types of distal bite:

• the incisors are inclined forward;
• the incisors are inclined backwards.

Almost always, people with a distal bite have a hunched back and a forward tilt of the head. This happens because in a different position the upper jaw blocks the airways.

Mesial bite

A mesial malocclusion is a protrusion of the lower jaw. It turns out to be more developed than the lower one, so the lower teeth often overlap the upper ones. People with this anomaly have a protruding chin, which makes the profile appear “energetic” and “masculine.” The occurrence of the problem is most often associated with the presence of an extra tooth, too large lower teeth, or incorrect placement of the jaw in space (the upper one is in the posterior position or the lower one is in the anterior position).

Deep bite

A deep bite is a situation where the upper (front) incisors overlap the lower ones by more than half their height. Partial overlap is normal. The upper incisors are usually larger, so they cover the lower ones by a third. With a deep bite, the lower incisors are practically invisible.

Open bite

An open bite is characterized by a lack of closure. People with this type of malocclusion are easy to recognize: they have a clear distance between the teeth of the upper and lower jaw. Usually the problem appears due to underdevelopment of incisors, canines or molars, most often the upper anterior incisors.

Crossbite

A crossbite is an abnormality where one of the jaws narrows and moves to the side, causing the teeth to be unable to find their “mate.” People with this anomaly are characterized by noticeable facial asymmetry.

Features of open, deep, cross, distal and mesial bites

Causes of pathological bite

There are many reasons for malocclusion. In most cases they are the same for children and adults. A harmful myofunctional habit such as a love of chewing a pencil and many other factors can serve as an impetus for the appearance of disorders.

There is an opinion that dental malocclusion occurs only in children, but it is erroneous. Birth defects usually appear in childhood. In adults, changes are often associated with injuries, unhealthy lifestyles, and advanced diseases of teeth and gums.

In children

The causes of incorrect jaw position and abnormal development of teeth in a child can be called:

• injuries that the baby received during childbirth, if there were complications;
• poor heredity and genetic tendency to an irregular jaw shape;
• malnutrition of the fetus during pregnancy, which may be associated with a woman’s illness;
• the formation of mouth breathing, which not only moves the teeth, but also prevents the nasal sinuses from fully developing;
• Incorrect positioning of the baby during breastfeeding or bottle feeding;
• love for prolonged sucking of collars, fingers, toys, abuse of pacifiers;
• rickets or disruptions in the body’s metabolic processes, as well as poor nutrition, lack of food with fluoride and calcium;
• incorrect position during sleep, thumb sucking during sleep;
• delayed replacement of temporary teeth with molars and too early start of teeth change.

In adults

The appearance of malocclusion in an adult is almost always associated with one or more reasons from the following list:

• chronic diseases of the nasopharynx, especially affected by constant nasal congestion;
• multiple carious lesions of teeth, in which a person incorrectly distributes the load on the jaws;
• improper and poor nutrition due to which the teeth do not receive the necessary vitamins and minerals to restore the protective layer of enamel, as well as metabolic failures in which the body cannot extract the necessary microelements from food. The lack of fluoride and calcium has a particularly negative effect;
• injuries of the dental system, etc.

Causes

Malocclusion is the result of more than one factor. Most often, a child’s bite is determined in the womb. Some causes can be prevented by paying close attention to your child's habits. One of the reasons is artificial feeding. During breastfeeding, when the sucking function is well developed, the lower jaw gradually takes on the correct position. Previous rickets and respiratory tract diseases increase the risk of developing distal occlusion.

Causes of the anomaly:

• genetics - more than 60% of cases occur due to predisposition; if one of the parents has a pathology, the child will definitely have it;
• disorders of intrauterine development, alcohol consumption during pregnancy, illness, lack of vitamins, poor environment - all this increases the risk of dental pathology;
• feeding features - artificial feeding from the wrong bottle does not allow the bite to form correctly;
• lack of solid food in the child’s diet, prolonged sucking of a pacifier or finger.

To understand the causes of the pathology, the doctor conducts a comprehensive diagnosis. Often the cause is overdevelopment of the upper jaw. Orthodontists at the Propricus clinic correct distal bites with braces and aligners. The easiest way to eliminate pathology is in children and adolescents. But our doctors take on even the most complex cases among adults. Digital equipment and professional skills help create the perfect smile.

Consequences of malocclusion

Each age has its own critical effects that incorrect teeth can have on the human body. But while in an adult the influence is often unnoticeable, in a child it can lead to developmental anomalies in many systems and organs. That is why it is important to remember what will happen if the bite is not corrected, and to deal with the problem in a timely manner.

Temporary

The temporary bite is formed from 6 months to 6 years. The process usually takes place in two stages: first, the primary teeth erupt. With proper development of the child, this stage ends around 3 years, after which active growth of the jaws begins. This period is a kind of preparation for the eruption of permanent teeth.

Abnormal development of the upper and lower jaw

Incorrect temporary bite usually occurs due to disturbances during pregnancy, birth injuries and poor heredity. Problems also appear if the child does not want to give up the pacifier, replaces it with a finger in the mouth, or has breathing problems.

The most important consequence of malocclusion of primary teeth is underdevelopment of the jaws. The child's body simply does not understand what size they should be and stops jaw growth too early. There is also the opposite case, when the oral apparatus turns out to be overly developed and massive. If left untreated, the problem will cause permanent teeth to erupt improperly.

Removable

A mixed bite is called a removable bite, in which some of the baby teeth have not yet been replaced by permanent ones. There is an early mixed dentition, which is formed at 6-9 years of age. The first to be replaced are the molars, and behind the baby teeth the first permanent molars, the “sixes,” appear. Late mixed dentition begins to form at 10 years of age. At this age, premolars and canines grow. With a correct change of bite, the permanent teeth do not come into contact with the milk teeth and quickly take their place.

Irregular eruption of permanent teeth

Dental disorders in the mixed dentition are caused by elements that fall out or are removed too early: they leave cavities and gaps, which is why the formed permanent teeth grow without the correct orientation. This can cause twisting, incorrect placement of teeth in space and other problems. This is why baby teeth need to be treated rather than removed.

Constant

At the age of 12-15, a person’s milk teeth are replaced by permanent ones, and most of the molars, except for the “eights,” also grow. At this age we can talk about a fully formed permanent dentition. If baby teeth grow correctly, we can hope that the molars will also be positioned correctly. Although this is not a guarantee, this is often the case. But, if a person has developed an incorrect bite, the consequences cannot be avoided.

Decreased chewing activity

Malocclusion almost always leads to a decrease in chewing activity. The teeth do not touch each other, so a person simply cannot provide sufficient force to chew food. He makes a lot of movements without getting the desired result, and as a result, he often refuses to chew properly at all. Because of this, large pieces of food enter the stomach, which are difficult for the body to process; a person does not receive enough nutrients from food.

Temporomandibular joint disease

The temporomandibular joint is one of the most mobile in the human body. But it also cannot withstand too much stress. If the teeth are positioned incorrectly and the chewing function is impaired, overload cannot be avoided. Also, improper bite of the teeth causes disturbances in movement in the joint, the appearance of clicks, and pain. In the most negative version, the TMJ becomes completely stuck: the person opens his mouth, but cannot close it.

Uneven chewing load on teeth

One of the signs of a correct bite is an even load on the teeth. When chewing, each molar and premolar performs its function by cutting or grinding food particles. The absence of an element in the dentition or their weak contact leads to the fact that one tooth “works” and the other does not. This is especially noticeable in an open bite.

Increased enamel wear

Uneven loading invariably leads to frequent use of the same tooth surfaces. Because of this, the enamel suffers, which is damaged in certain places and begins to wear off faster. Weakening and abrasion of enamel almost always causes tooth disease.

Damage to bone tissue

Damage to bone tissue is almost always caused by the absence of one of the elements in the bite. If there is no tooth, the load that it took upon itself falls on the bone. Due to the formation of the cavity, chewing mainly occurs with adjacent molars or canines, but such disorders also have a great impact on bone tissue.

Periodontitis

Gum inflammation is almost always associated with a malocclusion. And the stronger the disorder, the more often inflammation will occur. They are especially familiar to people who have crooked teeth. Periodontitis can also occur due to constant damage to the gums by food or adjacent elements of the dentition.

Early tooth loss

It is possible to lose teeth early even with a normal bite, but due to increased wear of the enamel, the risk of developing caries and other diseases increases. This leads to early destruction of the crown, and even to inflammation of the pulp.

Impaired diction

Diction disorders due to malocclusion are usually associated with the fact that a person cannot ensure the necessary passage of air through the oral cavity. But it is precisely this action that makes it possible to pronounce some sounds correctly. If there is no barrier in the form of teeth, speech sounds incorrect.

Aesthetic violations

While a small deep bite may not be noticeable, a cross bite is immediately visible and looks very unaesthetic. Violations extend not only to the teeth hidden in the mouth, but also to the facial skeleton. Facial asymmetry is a common consequence of malocclusion.

Gastrointestinal diseases

Gastrointestinal diseases most often occur after a long life with dental disorders. The problem is related to insufficient chewing of food. The gastrointestinal tract has to take on the function of teeth, processing too large pieces of food. This leads to rapid wear and tear of organs.

Difficult oral hygiene

Uneven teeth are very difficult to clean. Due to the appearance of too small or too large gaps between the teeth, cavities appear that are inaccessible to the brush, where bacteria accumulate. Only an irrigator or dentist can help ensure an adequate level of hygiene.

Difficult prosthetics and restoration

Most orthodontic surgeries are simply not performed for malocclusions, as there is no point in them. Tooth restoration is available, but chewing disorders and excessive stress will lead to rapid wear of the prosthesis. That is why most dentists first recommend correcting the bite, and then doing restoration.

Breathing problems

The airways are located in the lower jaw area. If it is displaced, then the person cannot breathe fully. This can cause snoring and even nighttime breathing apnea.

Bruxism

Bruxism is excessive clenching of teeth and grinding. It occurs due to problems with the temporomandibular joint, as well as if the dentition is positioned incorrectly. Bruxism is a complex problem and can occur for other reasons, but malocclusions cause it quite often.

ENT diseases

The appearance of various ENT diseases is usually associated with constant inflammation in the oral cavity. Both systems are nearby, so inflammatory processes in the mouth quickly spread to the nasopharynx. And they appear in the mouth due to lack of care and a good environment for the development of bacteria.

Traumatization of soft tissues of the oral cavity

Soft tissue injury usually occurs if one of the teeth is positioned incorrectly. It can be moved forward or to the side. The sharp edge often scratches the mucous membrane, causing non-healing abscesses to appear on it. The problem can be solved locally: just sharpen the tooth.

Gum recession

Gum recession is the exposure of the root portion of the tooth. It usually occurs due to improperly distributed chewing load. Because of this, the teeth themselves become much more sensitive, and inflammation occurs.

How to correct an overbite

Modern dentistry has come up with dozens of ways to correct malocclusion. Most often, braces are used, followed by retainers to prevent teeth from moving apart. Other adjustment methods:

• wearing trainers;
• use of records;
• aligners and aligners;
• surgical intervention.

An orthodontist is involved in the treatment of malocclusion, about whose work we wrote a separate article. Read more about treatment and diagnostics here: “What an orthodontist treats: what diseases does this doctor treat…”

Conclusions. Expert advice

The correct position of teeth is very important for a person. Bite abnormalities can cause improper development of the jaw, rapid wear of the enamel, and the development of dental diseases, which is why they have to be removed. If you do not pay attention to the problem, it begins to cause disturbances in the gastrointestinal tract, breathing problems, and ENT diseases. That is why it is important to diagnose the anomaly in a timely manner and begin treatment for malocclusion. Moreover, you can take care of your smile at any age; modern medicine allows you to do this!

Care and hygiene rules

One of the advantages of aligners is their ease of care. To keep them clean and effective throughout the correction, follow these simple rules:

• aligners must be worn up to 22 hours a day, depending on the orthodontist's indications, removing them only for eating or oral hygiene;
• The aligner must be cleaned regularly by rinsing the inner surface with warm running water and brushing with a toothbrush;
• You should avoid too hot water so that the polymer does not deform due to temperature changes.

Aligners do not require special solutions. If you remove them, then put them in a special clean and sealed box, protected from dust and moisture.

Oral hygiene when wearing aligners also remains the same - brush, paste, mouth rinse solutions and dental floss. The latter is also suitable for effectively removing food particles.

Let us note the contraindications under which aligners cannot be installed:

• periodontal disease. Like other methods of orthodontic treatment, aligners are not prescribed for periodontal disease due to the high risk of losing teeth due to destruction of periodontal tissue;
• severe deformation of the jaw. Aligners work well for minor malocclusions. However, serious defects require surgery;
• in the presence of impacted teeth. Often this problem occurs with molars that do not erupt and remain in the gum or even in the jaw bone. Having an aligner can interfere with their development and lead to problems in the future;
• if 4 or more teeth have been lost.

In other cases, aligners are equally effective for all ages - from children to adults.

Expert of the article you are reading:

Pokrovskaya Natalya Sergeevna

Head of the Department of Orthodontics

Specialization: Invisalign bite correction, neuromuscular diagnostics, pediatric orthodontics.

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