West Green Family Dental

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Dental care

Symptoms that your child is developing a poor bite

The significance of a good bit goes way beyond physical appearance, as a sound bite has crucial health benefits. Maintaining a good bite becomes necessary for prolonged dental health as it promotes overall oral health and prevents problems related to chewing, gum disease, and even tooth decay. Taking care of a child’s dental routine is tedious and challenging. Still, regular visits to the dentist and daily brushing and flossing habits are imperative to keep oral problems at bay. But, irrespective of an optimal dental routine, a child may suffer from a poor bite or malocclusion.

A dental bite refers to the process wherein the upper and lower teeth fit together. In a good bite, the teeth have a straight alignment. The upper teeth slightly extend in front of and over the lower teeth when the jaws are closed. At times, permanent teeth erupting out of position or a jaw abnormality can lead to a poor bite or malocclusion.

Although the complete effects of malocclusion may not reveal themselves until later stages of life, a child can show signs of developing a poor bite as early as six.

Signals that your child is developing a poor bite

  1. Overbite is a condition wherein the upper teeth hide the lower teeth when a child attempts to close their mouth. Another manifestation of overbite is biting the roof of the mouth with the lower teeth. An overbite is a common sign that tour child is developing malocclusion.
  2. An underbite – a situation when the lower teeth conceal the upper when the child is trying to close their mouth – is another typical symptom of malocclusion,
  3. An open bite is another sign of malocclusion. It is a phenomenon when the upper and lower sets of teeth do not preciously meet in front of the mouth when the child closes their mouth.
  4. Excessive space is another red signal that your child may be developing a poor bite. The problem is graver when the permanent teeth have already erupted, and there are sizeable gaps in the child’s front teeth.
  5. Buck teeth overjet is a symptom of malocclusion in your child. It is a condition wherein the front incisors protrude or stick out over the lower set.
  6. At times, an improper bite may cause a shift in the child’s facial bones or chin to one side. Facial imbalance can be detected when observing the child from a distance.

If a poor bite or malocclusion is identified at a nascent stage, the chances of successful interception increase manifold.

Solutions to malocclusion or poor bite
X-rays and teeth impressions can determine the extent of your child’s bite. They reveal the areas of misalignment in lucid detail. If your child needs advanced treatment, the dentist may suggest mouth implements, teeth removal, or jaw surgery.

Mouth implements like braces are a viable solution to correct several bite problems. Teeth removal is applicable mainly when the child still has their baby teeth. In older children, a dentist deems it essential to remove some of the permanent teeth to rectify an improper bite. Lastly, jaw surgery is vital when the child’s bite issues are detrimental to their oral bone structure.

In case of discomfort in teeth or jaw, please visit your nearest dentist at the earliest.

Book Appointment to find out which treatment might be best for you.

Categories
Dental care

Can veneers give you a radiant smile?

A veneer is a unique layer of material placed over the tooth’s surface. Dentists utilise veneers to enhance the aesthetics of a smile and safeguard the tooth’s surface from any damage. There are two kinds of veneers in dentistry – one made from dental porcelain, and the other is the composite veneer. 

A composite veneer is one that is either directly placed or indirectly made by a dental expert or technician in a laboratory. It is later attached to the tooth, generally using a block of resin cement. They are usually used to treat you people who will need a more permanent design after growing up. The composite veneer can last up to four years.

In contrast, the fabrication of a porcelain veneer may only be indirect. There is a famous saying in dentistry that a full veneer is a restoration that encapsulates all the coronal surfaces of the tooth, that is, Mesial, Distal, Facial, Lingual and Occlusal surfaces.

Furthermore, a Laminate veneer is a thin layer that covers only the tooth’s surface and is typically used for beautification purposes. They are more picturesque and are less resistive to dental plaque.

Can veneers give you a radiant smile?

At times, teeth that are hale and healthy may have an off-putting appearance. The slight contortion is hardly noticeable, but it is still present; a tiny chip, heavy staining or a gap between the front teeth are examples. But, it is a fact that such slight deformities bother people to a large degree. During such situations, veneers come to the rescue as they are an affordable method of improving one’s smile without undergoing any major dental procedure. 

Porcelain veneers are thin coats of dental porcelain attached to the outside of the teeth to hide blemishes. So, all that is visible are your pearly whites as veneers seamlessly blend with your natural set of teeth. 

So, we can say that veneers do give you a radiant smile.

The process of getting veneers

To attach veneers, you must consult your cosmetic and regular dentist. It is helpful if you take pictures of how you want your teeth to look like. After the consultation, the dentist takes the necessary measurements, and he may also be able to show you the new veneers. Computer software is often used when the veneers are superimposed on your original set in the computer.

Once your measurements are on the way to the dental lab to custom create your veneers, your dentist must prepare your teeth for bonding. Although veneers are pretty thin, they may still appear bulky when bonded to the teeth. To create a more natural look, you’ll probably need some of the enamel layer of your teeth removed to accommodate the extra width. Even though the removal is minuscule, it will permanently alter your teeth and require some form of restoration from then on.

In case of discomfort or pain in the teeth or gums, kindly visit your nearest dentist at the earliest.

Book Appointment to find out which treatment might be best for you.