Many parents in Miami Lakes worry when they find out their child has a snaggle tooth because they want their child to have a healthy, beautiful smile. We know that a snaggle tooth, which is a tooth that is crooked, overlaps with other teeth or sticks out from its normal position, can hurt your child’s looks and dental health. Fortunately there are many ways to treat this common orthodontic problem and get your child’s teeth in the right place.
A snaggle tooth usually happens when there isn’t enough room in the jaw for all the teeth to come in where they should. This crowding makes one or more teeth develop at an angle or overlap with nearby teeth which is what makes them look crooked. Genetics also have a big impact on the size of the jaw and the position of the teeth. This means kids often get the same alignment patterns as their parents. Snaggle teeth can also happen if you lose your baby teeth too soon or suck your thumb for a long time.
When to fix your child’s snaggle tooth depends on many things such as their age, how bad the misalignment is and if it’s primary or permanent teeth. Even if all of your child’s permanent teeth haven’t come in yet we usually recommend they see an orthodontist by age 7. This early evaluation helps us find any problems and determine the best time to start treatment. Also fixing alignment problems in childhood usually doesn’t require as much treatment as waiting until all the permanent teeth have come in.
Sometimes treating snaggle teeth early helps prevent more serious problems from happening as your child gets older. Space maintainers keep the right amount of space between teeth when primary teeth fall out too soon. Palatal expanders can also make you a pal. Expanders can also make you a pal. Palatal expanders can make narrow jaws wider which allows crowded teeth to line up naturally as they grow. These interceptive treatments usually mean teens don’t need as much orthodontic work later on.
At Specialty Smiles we look at each child’s individual case to determine the best way to treat their snaggle tooth. Some situations need immediate attention while others need to be watched until more permanent teeth come in. When we create customized treatment plans we take into account how cooperative the child is, how bad the misalignment is and what the family’s goals are for treatment. We also educate parents on the long term benefits of fixing alignment problems early on.
The most common and successful way to fix snaggle teeth in kids and teens is still traditional orthodontic treatment. Metal braces can slowly move the tooth that is out of alignment into place while keeping the teeth around it in place. Depending on the complexity of the situation the treatment usually takes 18-36 months. We monitor progress during treatment to get the best results.
Modern orthodontic options give you more choices for fixing snaggle teeth especially for older kids and teens who don’t like the look of traditional braces. Clear aligners are a more private way to treat certain cases, let teens straighten their teeth without the metal brackets and wires being seen. But not all cases of snaggle teeth can be treated with clear aligners especially those that need a lot of tooth movement.
Fixing your child’s snaggle tooth will make them look better but it will also help them in other ways. Cleaning teeth that are properly aligned is easy which reduces the risk of dental decay and gum disease for the rest of your life. Also having your teeth in the right place makes chewing easier and helps stop teeth from wearing down too much. We see that kids who have had orthodontic treatment feel more confident and feel more confident and get along better with others. Kids who have had orthodontic treatment feel more comfortable and get along better with others.