My Child's Teeth are Crooked. Should I Panic?



If your child’s teeth are crooked, don’t panic yet. Speak to your pediatric dentist first. Many times baby teeth erupt with lots of space between them. Baby teeth are still shifting and finding the correct space they fit into and the space can be created by a number of reasons. The cause of the spacing will allow for a variety of possible solutions. Dr. Cameron Fuller says, "baby's teeth are the placeholders for permanent teeth, if you fix the space in the baby teeth before the permanent teeth come in, then your child’s permanent teeth may not have enough space to come in correctly and may end up being crooked.  
 
If its permanent teeth you are concerned about, it might be time to consult your pediatric dentist and determine if early intervention could be beneficial. "Once their permanent teeth begin to erupt it might be time to look into options to make sure they don’t have a space long-term between their teeth," states Dr. Fuller. While it may appear to be cosmetic in nature, large spaces can cause problems for children later. For example, certain sounds are made that require no air to be pushed out if the sound is going to be said correctly. 

No matter what age your child is, taking them to the dentist can help provide the comfort you need to make sure the right decision is made which will allow you and your dentist to create a plan to support your child’s dental needs. 

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