Are you concerned about your child's thumb sucking habit?

Thumb habits and Impact on the development of the jaws

Thumb sucking is a very normal process for babies and toddlers.  It is soothing and calming, and there is no reason to worry if your child is under  5 years of age.  In most cases, if the thumb habit is ceased around age 4-5, the permanent teeth will come in (around age 6) just fine.  However, if the habit persists beyond the time the permanent teeth begin to erupt (age 6), the bite becomes affected.  As a child sucks his or her thumb, a tremendous negative pressure is created inside the mouth, while outside, the cheeks are being contracted at the same time.  The characteristic bite of thumb sucking is “protruding” or flared upper front teeth, spacing between the upper front teeth, open bite (see picture below-where front teeth don’t touch), and a narrowed upper jaw (due to the negative pressure inside the mouth and the positive pressure from the cheeks “pushing” on the back.  These characteristics can do many things to affect the eruption of the other permanent teeth.  For example, too narrow of a palate means insufficient space to accommodate all the remaining permanent teeth.  Also, the pressures created can also impact the formation of the jaws, where the lower jaw remains much further back than the upper jaw.

The cheeks push the UPPER back teeth IN, causing a narrowed palate, while the tongue posture is LOW, so no balance of forces occurs on the upper teeth (as seen in the lower teeth)

                                                    THUMB SUCKING- Before                                                                

 

 After a Thumb crib

What are the treatments to stop a thumb habit in a 6-7 year old?

If treated early, right as the permanent teeth are erupting, treatment will be a short 8-10 month duration and will consist of only 1 appliance to prevent the thumb from sneaking in the mouth (especially at night which is the hardest to control!)

Your child will receive either a thumb crib with an expander, or just a regular thumb crib.

                                         Thumb crib + expander                                                                                

                                                
                                                                              Thumb crib only

How will I know if I need and expander with a thumb crib?  Dr. Bauer will explain all of this to you- if your child has a crossbite, he or she will need the expander as well.

(example of a crossbite)- Upper back teeth are located behind Lower back teeth







I know how thumb habits are difficult to stop, but we are here to help you!!
Please call us with any questions!  Don't hesitate to bring in a child even at the age of 4-5 to get some ideas for getting that thumb out of there!  We want you and your child to succeed!!

Danielle Bauer DDS, MS

630-665-5495

Bauer Orthodontics
Rate us here!

Orthodontist v. dentist

The difference between a Dentist and an Orthodontist

Why is it so important to see an orthodontic specialist for braces as opposed to your general dentist?

1.        A qualified orthodontic specialist must first receive his/her doctorate in general dentistry – the same as the general dentist. Then, they must complete an additional  three years of graduate training in orthodontics at an American Dental Association approved, university affiliated program. As a specialist, the orthodontist limits his/her practice exclusively to orthodontic treatments. If a dental practitioner is practicing general dentistry and providing orthodontic services, he/she is not an approved specialist in orthodontics.

2.       An orthodontist received extensive training in growth and development of the bones and teeth, and is better equipped to properly diagnose and treat problems with the jaws and teeth!

3.       While many people consider orthodontics as just “straightening crooked teeth,” there is really so much more.  As an orthodontist, I look at the developing bones of the upper and lower jaws, the bones and gums surrounding the teeth, the specialized x-rays we take (the panoramic x-ray and the cephalometric x-ray) to further evaluate the harmony of all these things together.  Lastly, we are treating FACES, not teeth-so therefore I must look at how the lips relate to the teeth and how to best treat each person based upon their FACIAL NEEDS!!  For example, this patient wanted straighter teeth and to fix her smile: 

Please look at how much of her gums she shows when smiling-this is something that needs to be addressed and diagnosed properly from day 1 or the results will not be optimal.  A general dentist may not catch this or evaluate this because they do not have the specialty training to realize the complexity of this case.  This patient came to me after being treated by her general dentist because she was unhappy with the outcome because all he did was align her teeth.

4.        I have been asked several times about early treatment at a young age (age 7-9 years old) and how this works and who gets it.  Thanks to our wonderful organization AAO (American Association of Orthodontists, I was able to get this particular brochure that really explains it well.  Please take a moment to read this!

http://www.aaomembers.org/Resources/upload/Two_Phase_Treatment-l.pdf

Your family dentist is excellent at achieving your needs for  esthetic concerns such as fillings in the front teeth, crowns, veneers, replacement of missing teeth )such as implants), but a specialist in ORTHODONTICS is best equipped to handle the growth and development of the jaws and facial harmony required for a successful orthodontic case.

 

*****WHAT ABOUT 6 MONTH BRACES?

This is a big issue I deal with a lot.  6 months is too short of a time to complete braces in children or adults.  Part of having braces is not only aligning your teeth, but achieving a good functional bite.  Placement of braces for 6 months cannot accomplish all these things; in fact, the bite gets altered significantly in the first few months of treatment, thus leaving you with fairly straight teeth, but an uncomfortable bite that you may not accept.  As an orthodontist, I see this a lot and patients have to come to me to have things fixed.  So, you end up paying twice and going through braces twice.  Beware of these “quick fixes,” as many times they turn out to be longer than a regular 18 months worth of braces!

If you have any questions on any of these topics, we would love to discuss this with you!  Please call our office at (630) 665-5495 to set up your complimentary consultation!!

Check out our website at www.bauerbraces.com

Danielle Bauer DDS, MS                                                               
630-665-5495                                                                  

Bauer Orthodontics
Rate us here!

Can you skip phase 1 orthodontics?

 SOMETIMES, YES!!!

This is another article showing there really is no huge advantage to EARLY treatment (around age 8-9 prior to all the permanent teeth being in) in patients who present with a class II (aka- large overjet).   Shown here in the picture

 Unless there are pressing bite issues (like a crossbite or severe crowding), it may just be best to wait for the phase 2 (full braces/appliance treatment).

Intrarater agreement about the etiology of Class II malocclusion and treatment approach

Of course, it is a case-by-case basis so an evaluation should still be done by an orthodontist to determine if early treatment would be beneficial.

When should I take my child to the orthodontist?

Great article on when to see an orthodontist

Many people wonder when is the best time to take their children to see the orthodontist. While the American Association of Orthodontists recommends age 7, that does not mean it is time to start anything at that time. An orthodontist does not just straighten teeth, but we also harmonize the lips and soft tissue, as well as the bones that the teeth grow in. If there are early problems with bones, these can be addressed at this time. By addressing problems early on, braces are less expensive and take less time (14-18 months as opposed to 2-3 years). Young patients do really well with treatment and Dr. Danielle is awesome with kids! As a mom herself, Dr. Danielle understands how to reach the young kids in a tell-show-do method. This decreases anxiety and creates a positive environment for everyone!
So check out this article from the NY Times!

Call our office with any questions or concerns! 630-665-5495

http://www.webmd.com/oral-health/features/when-to-see-orthodontist