Ask the Dentist - Braces

Q: How do I know if my child needs to wear braces?

A: There are a few signs that indicate the need for braces, they include:

• Crowding:

  insufficient space for all the teeth in the mouth results in crooked teeth. This makes it difficult for toothbrushing and flossing to be done effectively, hence plaque accumulates and the risk of dental problems such as tooth decay and gum disease increases.

• Overbite:

  ue to hereditary reasons or misalignment in the jaw, the upper front teeth protrudes much further than the lower teeth. This increases the risk of trauma to the front teeth.

• Underbite:

  when the lower teeth or jaw protrudes in front of the upper teeth, it causes an imbalanced facial appearance and the child may experience difficulty in biting and chewing.

• Openbite:

  when the upper and lower front teeth do not touch, it may result in difficulty in biting and hinder speech. This can be caused by digit-sucking habits or imbalance of growth of the facial skeleton.

• Crossbite:

  when the upper tooth is behind the lower opposing tooth, it may damage both teeth and gums and can promote asymmetric jaw growth.

It is recommended that you bring your child to an orthodontist for a thorough examination in order to know if any orthodontic treatment is required.

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Dr May Ling Eide is a Dental Surgeon with Postgraduate Training in Orthodontics with Specialist Dental Group®. She received her specialist training in orthodontics from the University of London, United Kingdom and is registered as an Orthodontist on the Specialist List of the General Dental Council in the United Kingdom.

For more information, visit www.specialistdentalgroup.com or call (65) 6733 7883.

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Specialist Dental Group ® is a corporate sponsor of the Canadian Association of Singapore (CAS). CAS members enjoy a special rate for dental services.