Dr. James Wade Logeman, DDS

Thumbsucking cannot change the shape of the actual teeth, but it can DEFINITELY change the shape of the dental arches! It can cause the maxilla (upper jaw) to narrow/constrict...it can cause the upper incisors to protrude (tip) forward...and can cause the lower teeth to move lingually (toward the tongue).

Make an appointment with an orthodontist to get an exam/consultation. He will assess the problem(s), and determine if any interceptive treatment might be necessary at this time...or treatment can wait until it's time for braces when all or at least most of the permanent teeth are in.

Of course your case (as for every case) would have to be evaluated to determine dental malalignment, skeletal discrepancies, anterior relation, molar relation, etc...in order to determine YOUR treatment plan and treatment modality. Braces aren't necessarily the only option. Invisalign can handle many different types of cases.
If your jaws are still "disproportionate"...jaw discrepencies can be addressed with a jaw surgical proceedure. This is done very commonly for those who dislike their facial structures.
The take home message is that EVERY case must be evaluated on an idividual basis to determine the ideal treatment plan/options for each case.

A parafunctional habit like clenching or grinding can definitely cause the teeth (enamel) to abrade, or wear down. So if you ARE clenching or grinding, it is a good idea to wear a vacuum-formed retainer, or a mouthguard, or SOMETHING in between the teeth to prevent you from having enamel - enamel contact! This will stop the teeth from wearing down!

The correction of overcrowding is not difficult. If it is resolved WITHOUT the removal of teeth, the dental arch(es) are typically developed by moving teeth outward (away from the tongue).
The key is retention. My rule of thumb is a permanent or 'fixed' retainer for at least three years to allow the teeth to get stable in their new positions, before I can feel comfortable trusting a removeable retainer! Knowing how UNSTABLE teeth are after they've been moved...I just don't trust a removeable retainer to hold until stable.
There are some cases where overcrowding is severe enough that removing teeth makes sense (sometimes), but in today's orthodontics, we're able to do more and more cases non-extraction.

While it may be too early for braces...it is NOT too early to be checked by an orthodontist!
There are many things that can and SHOULD be intercepted when a patient is in the mixed dentition (still has several primary teeth remaining!). Skeletal discrepancies, severe crowding, parafunctional habits, etc...which can be intercepted and corrected while we await the eruption of the remaining permanent teeth.
While personally, I'm not a big fan of two sets of braces OR many years in braces because we're waiting for teeth to come in...I AM in favor of early skeletal correction or arch development because often you can take advantage of growth AND make room for developing/erupting teeth!
Hope this helps!
Dr. L

Tooth stability varies greatly from patient to patient. Things like spacing between teeth, severe crowding, rotations are all very unstable after orthodontic correction...and must be held until the periodontal ligament is no longer stretched, and the bone has had a chance to 'catch up' to the new tooth position.
As a general rule, I prefer to use 'fixed' or 'bonded' retainers both upper AND lower until I know the teeth are reasonably stable before I can 'trust' a removable retainer! Teeth are VERY unstable after orthodontic correction, and they WANT to return to their original position! This is called relapse, and we do everything we can to prevent relapse!
To me, trying to rely on a removable retainer is VERY risky immediately post-ortho! Bad things happen with removables (compliance, breakage, lost, chewed up by the dog, etc)...and replacement retainers aren't cheap! This is why I prefer having the control in MY hands by bonding upper and lower retainers routinely...at least until things are more stable.

The first thing is to have your daughter evaluated. Schedule a new patient exam/consultation to determine her needs. The orthodontist will be able to determine the best course of action to give your daughter a beautiful smile and a functional occlusion! Simply call your friendly neighborhood orthodontist, and they will make an appointment for you!

Dr. Logeman

Hello!
The best thing to do is to have an orthodontist see your son to see if any early treatment is indicated. As long as there's not a significant skeletal discrepancy, or severe crowding...it is often best to wait until all or at least most of the permanent teeth have erupted. Otherwise you're looking at either TWO sets of braces, or an unnecessary extended time in braces! (neither of which are very appealling!)
However, there are MANY things that can and SHOULD be intercepeted early...when there are still some primary teeth remaining!
So, the best thing to do would be to make an appointment for your son for a new patient exam/consultation to see what if anything is necessary at this time!
Hope this helps!
Dr. Logeman

The need to have premolars removed for orthodontic treatment is not uncommon...in fact, in many cases, it makes treatment go MUCH smoother more efficiently. This often means less time in treatment...and everybody loves shorter treatment time. I can assure you that your extractions will be easier than you think! With today's local anesthesia, they will make sure you don't feel any pain!
Nothing to worry about!

Teeth are designed to relate to each other (top to bottom) in a very particular way for optimal function...and so they won't wear down prematurely. With a simple examination, your orthodontist will easily be able to identify if your occlusion is optimal, how stable it is, and what it would take to correct it.

In order to answer that question, things like dental arch form, overbite, overjet, midlines, crowding, spacing, rotations, curve of spee, anterior/posterior relation, etc...would all have to be determined. Braces arent' the only option. For minor tooth movement, sometimes a removable aligner retainer can give you a nice result. Many are also candidates for Invisalign.
The best thing to do would be to get an exam/consultation with a certified orthodontist. He/she will be able to tell you your best options.

On rare occaision, you can get away with treating only one arch with braces. However, without having control of BOTH arches, it is VERY difficult to obtain ideal occlusion. Things like arch form, overbite, overjet, midlines, the front to back curve of the lower arch...would all have to be evaluated before that question could be answered. Not only is it important to have esthetically pleasing teeth, but you also want them to fit properly and function optimally! So unless your lower arch is perfect, I would be skeptical about whether or not upper braces alone could give you the best result!

Hello!
Could it be possible that you might be confusing orthodontic treatment with something else that requires 'healing'? The process of orthodontics is a slow, methodical, controlled movement of the teeth that should not require any 'healing'. To answer your question, No...diabetes would not affect orthodontic treatment in any way.

The American Association of Orthodontists recommends that a child be screened at age 7. At this age, things like skeletal discrepencies, parafunctional habits, extreme crowding, etc. can be assessed to determine the need for intervention.
Personally, I'm not a fan of two times in braces...or a LONG time in braces because we're waiting for the rest of the permanent teeth to come in! However, I do like to intercept things like habits and skeletal problems while children are still in 'mixed' dentition (primary AND permanent teeth present)...and hold off on comprehensive orthodontics (braces or Invisalign) until at least most of the permanent teeth are in.
The best thing to do would be to have your son seen by an orthodontist to determine if he/she feels that there is anything that should be intecepted with early treatment.
To me, as long as there aren't any skeletal problems, habits, or severe crowding, I would put a child on observation...check them once or twice a year until it's time for alignment and bite correction. This way you can avoid having to pay for two sets of braces, OR have your child in braces for years and years because you're waiting for the rest of the permanent teeth to come in!

Hello!
Proper orthodontic treatment is not just limited to correcting the alignment of the teeth...it is also important that the upper and lower teeth relate properly together. The "occlusion", or 'the bite' is every bit as important with the function of your teeth as alignment is with the esthetics!
Sometimes (most commonly) it takes longer to correct the occlusion than it does the alignment.
That being said, the length of time in braces is obviously dependant on the degree of difficulty in correcting both the alignment AND the occlusion. This varies greatly! If it's just minor tooth movement of the front teeth, it can sometimes be done with a spring aligner retainer in just a few weeks. On the other hand, if there is significant bite and/or alignment correction...it can take two years or more!
So, the simple answer is this: The total time in braces completely depends on the degree of difficulty of the case!
As soon as the orthodontist does an exam of your dental alignment and occlusion, he/she should be able to give you an idea on how long it will take to correct it!
Hope this helps!!
Dr. L

If your 3 year old son is merely taking a bottle just at mealtime, it probably won't affect the shape of the dental arch(es), or position of the teeth. It's more the chronic parafunctional habits like thumb sucking or mouth breathing that can cause malaligned teeth and jaws.

This could be any of a number of things! The best thing to do is go back to the orthodontist so he can see what it is that might be causing the swelling, and treat it accordingly.

The most efficient way to move teeth is with LIGHT continuous force. When braces are put on, and after having an adjustment...controlled light forces are delivered to the teeth. Typically, the teeth will become 'tender' for about 2-3 days such that softer foods are best. You don't feel like eating beef jerky or a tough steak for a couple days after an adjustment, but it goes away after a few days. I wouldn't use the word 'pain'...rather tenderness or soreness.

Yes, of course it can be fixed with braces! Now depending on how many baby teeth are still present, it may or may not be time to start with braces. If it's just an alignment issue, it's best in my opinion to wait until most of the permanent teeth are in before you start (like just one or two loose baby teeth left). Otherwise, you could be looking at either two sets of braces, or an unnecessary extended time in braces (which are both negative and avoidable by waiting for eruption of most of the permanent teeth).

However, if there is a skeletal imbalance, or severe crowding, or a parafunctional habit such as thumb sucking or mouth breathing...this kind of problem can, and SHOULD be intercepted when they're still in the mixed dentition (ie...still many baby teeth left)...sometimes you can take advantage of growth by intercepting these things early on!

The best thing to do is to have your child screened by a specialist...they will steer you in the right direction!