When this 9-year-old first came to our Dublin practice, one of his lower front teeth was already loose. His lower front teeth were closing in front of his upper ones and every time he bit down the upper teeth knocked against them.
What was going on with his bite?
Normally the upper front teeth sit a little ahead of the lower ones. In a reverse bite (also called an anterior crossbite) that’s flipped.
His was also a traumatic bite, meaning it was causing damage. One lower tooth had loosened and his front teeth were starting to wear. A reverse bite can also hold back the growth of the upper jaw, which makes an underbite harder to fix later on.
Why did we start treatment at 9 years old?
At this age the jaws are still growing and that growth is something we can work with. Treating early let us protect his front teeth straight away and encourage his upper jaw forward. Not every child needs early treatment, but this one couldn’t wait.
How did we provide treatment?
We used clear aligners and a protraction facemask together.
The aligners moved his front teeth so the upper ones could come forward over the lower ones. He took them out to eat and brush, and got used to them quickly.
The facemask rests on the forehead and chin and gives the upper jaw a gentle forward pull through small elastics. He wore it at home in the evenings and overnight. It works best while the jaw is still growing, so his age was on our side.
The result
His upper front teeth now sit in front of the lower ones, the loose tooth is no longer under pressure, and the wear has stopped. His jaw and adult teeth have a much better base to develop from.
We’ll keep an eye on him as his remaining adult teeth come in!
When should your child start orthodontic treatment?
We recommend a first orthodontic check from around age 7. Most children don’t need treatment at that age, but it lets us catch problems like this before they cause damage.
Free kids orthodontics consultations available
If your child’s bite doesn’t look right, or they’re 7 or over and haven’t had a check yet, come and see us. Consultations at Synergy Orthodontics Dublin are free.