Mount Elizabeth Orthodontic Clinic

Are you worried that your kid may have a developing malocclusion (bad bite)?

Signs of a developing malocclusion:

1. Protruding upper front teeth
2. Crossbite (lower teeth bite in front of upper teeth)
3. Spaces between teeth
4. Delayed shedding of milk teeth
5. Delayed eruption of adult teeth especially if one side is delayed by more than 6 months
6. Open bite (upper and lower front teeth not meeting)
7. Deep bite (upper front teeth covering almost all of the lower front teeth)
8. Disproportionate jaw growth e.g. longer lower jaw, retrusive middle face at the side of the nose, squashed look (short vertical face height), asymmetrical jaw, chin deviating to one side
9. Habits such as finger-sucking or mouth breathing
10. Poor management of caries
11. Early extraction and premature loss of milk teeth

It is not possible for most parents to detect these signs. The American Association of Orthodontics strongly recommends that children should have an orthodontic assessment no later than the age of 7. Although most children below the age of 10 years do not require any early treatment, it is essential that those who do receive timely intervention and correction.

A healthy foundation for your child