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Age 7 is the magic number for an orthodontic check
up! If you are a parent asking whether or not your child needs
braces, here are some questions to ask yourself:
1. Do the upper teeth protrude? Excessive protrusion
of the upper teeth, or "buck teeth," is the most common
orthodontic problem.
2. Is there a deep bite? The upper front teeth cover
the lower front teeth too much.
3. Is there an underbite? The upper teeth fit inside
the arch of the lower teeth.
4. Is there an open bite? The child can stick his
or her tongue between the upper and lower teeth when the back
teeth are together.
5. How is the spacing between teeth? To determine
if there is adequate spacing look for crowded or overlapped teeth,
as well as large gaps between teeth that indicate there is inadequate
spacing.
6. Do the MIDLINES line up? The spaces between the
two upper front teeth and the two lower front teeth should line
up with each other and both should line up with the bridge of
the nose. When they do not line up, the probable cause is drifted
teeth or a shilfted lower jaw, resulting in an improper bite.
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