There are four basic types of bites that create issues for your child and for which there are effective treatments that are available from our Santa Ana dental care. Crossbite, overbite, openbite, and overjet are all addressed here at Children’s Dental Group.
The crossbite occurs when one more of the upper teeth bite on the inside of the lower teeth. It can be just one tooth or more than one. If it is not addressed in a timely manner, your child’s teeth can wear prematurely. Other effects include potential gum disease, loss of bone tissue, misalignment of the jaws, dysfunctional chewing patterns, and a less pleasing smile. An openbite is when there is not enough vertical overlap of the teeth. It is often the result of thumb or finger sucking, or tongue thrust. If your child’s jaws don’t grow evenly, it can also lead to this problem. Again, prompt attention by our Santa Ana dental care is essential. Overbite means that the upper front teeth protrude over the lower front teeth. Typically, there is no contact between them. It happens when there is a disproportionate eruption of front teeth or the bone that support the teeth becomes overdeveloped. Also, a front to back imbalance between the upper and lower jaw can result in overbite. Overjet is another word for protrusion. When the lower teeth are too far behind the upper front teeth, possibly due to an improper alignment of the molars, imbalance of the upper and lower jaw, flared upper incisors, or missing lower teeth, your child can have overjet. The good news is that our Santa Ana dental care can diagnose, evaluate, and treat these bite concerns, so your child can look forward to having problem-free teeth and jaw alignment in the future.
It’s a good idea to schedule an appointment at our office so that your child can be examined.