Work through this checklist of the most common signs:
First ask your child to open their mouth, and let you look at their teeth.
- Are all of their teeth straight?
- Do any of the teeth slant to the side?
- Are there any gaps between the teeth?
- Do any of your child’s teeth overlap?
Next ask your child to bite down closing their jaws.
- Do your child’s top teeth protrude from the front of their mouth?
- Does your child have bucked teeth?
- Do the top front teeth cover more than 25% of the bottom teeth?
- Are any of the top teeth behind the bottom teeth?
- Do the teeth come together evenly, or are there any gaps?
Now look at the alignment of the jaw.
- Do all of the teeth come together smoothly, or does your child’s jaw shift off center when they clench their teeth together?
If you see any of the above symptoms, or if you are not sure, we strongly recommend an orthodontic consultation. Don’t wait hoping that the problem will go away. The reality is it probably won’t, and an early diagnosis gives you a greater range of treatment options.
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