If a baby or toddler has crooked teeth, then it's generally accepted their adult teeth will also have trouble fitting into the space available.
This is because children inherit skeletal and dental features from their parents and their relatives.
Sometimes the teeth are inherited from one relative and the jaw structure from another, resulting in a mismatch in tooth size and jaw size. This can result in too little (or less commonly too much) space for the adult teeth. This will not always become apparent until the later stages of dental development.
An orthodontic assessment at age seven or eight years is often comforting for parents and will allow for early treatment in the small percentage of children who require it. Some general dentists and all specialist paediatric dentists have the knowledge to do such an assessment but may refer the more complex cases to an orthodontist for an opinion.
Why You Should Visit the Dentist Twice a Year188000
Why You Should Visit the Dentist Twice a Year
Babies more commonly have spaces between their teeth which generally close as the child grows especially in the molar (back) regions.
The baby molar spaces usually close by four to five years of age. Front teeth generally have spaces in front of or behind the canines and between the upper central incisors although some children have spaces between all their front teeth.
Space in the baby teeth is a good thing as it means the child will have more space available for the larger adult teeth as the baby teeth are lost and the adult teeth come into place.
The process of getting baby teeth starts at around six-nine months of age, although some babies are born with teeth (neonatal teeth), and there are some children who do not get teeth until much later.
The change to adult teeth
Baby teeth begin the process of shedding at around six years of age but a tooth may be lost naturally as early as four years old or as late as eight years old. The first adult molar (six-year-old molar) generally arrives in the child’s sixth year and is positioned behind the baby second molar.
The change over to adult teeth takes place gradually as the child grows jaws and is able to accommodate more adult teeth of a larger size. Most children complete the change by 12 years of age although some may finish earlier around 10, or later around 14. Boys generally are later than girls.
Baby teeth usually begin to fall out between four and eight years of age. Image: iStock.
Habits in young children can influence the growth of the jaws and position of the teeth. Pacifiers and thumb sucking generally result in some moulding of the jaw growth in both the lower and upper teeth bearing areas. An ‘open bite’ may result.
Cessation of the habit early enough will allow for correction of the aberrant growth through normal growth potential. Research has shown that if the habit continues beyond age four then there is an increased risk of needing orthodontic correction. Not all children who use a pacifier or thumb suck will develop a dental problem. There are other risk factors involved such as genetic growth pattern and potential as well as ‘mouth breathing’ which can have an influence on growth.
About Dental Health Week
Dental Health Week is an annual oral health initiative lead by the Australian Dental Association, aimed at promoting the importance of oral health for all Australians. Dental Health Week kicks off on 6 August, with a focus on helping Australians to recognise the importance of oral hygiene practices as well as highlighting the preventative importance of regular visits with their dentist. The emphasis for 2018 is Watch Your Mouth, which brings to light the importance of caring for your whole mouth. Click here for more information.