Parents have such a common misconception that there is no point in treating milk teeth, let alone correcting the bite - anyway, they will soon be replaced by permanent ones. This misconception leads to a deterioration in the condition of the child's teeth, and it is quite possible that these problems then have to be solved in adulthood. In fact, milk bite is not just a temporary condition of the jaws. This is part of an important process in shaping the future of oral he alth, and it is desirable to understand all the features and intricacies of the process.
Peculiarities of milk bite
The most noticeable difference between a milk bite and a permanent one is the number and quality of teeth. Since the child's jaws have not yet grown, a much smaller number of teeth fit on them, only twenty. Milk teeth are softer, signs of wear quickly appear on them, the border between the tooth and the gum is more noticeable. Children's teeth alsodiffer in the color of the enamel, it is bluish-white.
Milk bite is divided into two conditional categories - forming and formed. Both stages are important for the correct establishment of the permanent dentition and the natural eruption of the permanent teeth afterwards.
Emerging milk bite
The laying of teeth in an infant occurs even during fetal development, and the first teeth erupt already at the age of five months. As a rule, these are the two central lower incisors. In the process of formation, the milk bite is usually not guessed, the teeth erupt gradually and symmetrically: the teeth of the same name on one jaw erupt synchronously on both sides. For example, the left and right fangs on the upper jaw appear almost simultaneously.
Even at the stage of milk bite formation, it is possible to determine whether it develops correctly. Showing your baby to an orthodontist at two years of age, when the bite is already underway, can help identify problems early on and take appropriate action.
Shaped occlusion of milk teeth
When all milk teeth have already erupted, we are talking about an already formed milk bite. And if there are problems with him, then at this stage they are noticeable even to a non-specialist, because all milk teeth have already erupted. Incorrect bite at this age is most often called "open" - the lower teeth do not go beyond the front ones, and it seems that the jaws simply do not close.
Open bite leads to the fact that milk teeth wear out faster, wear out, the risk of developing caries increases many times over, and, in addition to the above, the mechanism of laying the permanent bite is broken. The reasons can be different - from congenital features to acquired problems. For example, using a pacifier for too long or thumb sucking can lead to an open bite.
Should milk teeth be treated?
Treatment of milk teeth is necessary so as not to disturb the order of appearance of permanent teeth. Therefore, visits to the dentist are mandatory, literally from the age of two. This is useful not only because the doctor will notice bite problems in time, but also help to form a calm attitude of the child towards the dentist.
At the moment, there are modern sparing ways to treat milk teeth, in the same gentle way you can correct a milk bite in children. For example, caries in babies is not treated in the literal sense of the word, but is preserved by silvering, preventing further tooth decay. It is much easier to correct an overbite at the stage of the formation of violations than at a more mature age, when the problem has already formed and it has to be eliminated.
Correction of milk bite
Bite errors noticed at the formation stage can be corrected relatively easily, this does not require complex braces, it is enough to eliminate the cause of the problem and just let the teethdevelop as it should. Instead of braces, soft vestibular plates are used for this, they guide the growing teeth and help to quickly eliminate violations in the germ.
The problem with milk bite is that due to the improper closing of the teeth, premature abrasion and cracking of soft tooth enamel is possible. Dairy teeth already do not differ in increased strength, and by the time they begin to be replaced by permanent ones, they are already quite worn out. Due to malocclusion, this wear increases dramatically, which can contribute to the rapid development of caries and premature loss of milk teeth.
In the long term, correcting the bite of milk teeth has a beneficial effect on the permanent bite. Properly formed jaws will grow in the same way, and with a high degree of probability, after a change of teeth, a permanent bite will be normal, or problems will be easier to solve.
Dependence of permanent dentition on milk dentition
The rudiments of permanent teeth are formed under milk teeth in early childhood, so any problem in infancy inevitably affects further development. That is why it is highly desirable to protect milk teeth from decay as a result of caries, from curvature or misalignment.
If a milk tooth has to be removed ahead of time, then this provokes a permanent tooth to erupt and grow. The sequence is violated, because of this, a curvature of the dentition is possible. Since the permanent teeth are larger than the milk teeth, an early change is harmful for the not yet grown children's jaw.milk bite to permanent. If there is not enough room to grow, teeth can grow in a twisted or angled pattern.
Features of permanent occlusion
The process of forming a permanent bite begins long before the first milk tooth falls out. Normally, milk teeth begin to fall out precisely because they are pushed out by growing permanent ones. However, if the child has dental problems that destroy milk teeth, this order is violated. Thus, taking care of milk teeth is actually taking care of permanent teeth, with which a person will have to live all his life. Since milk and permanent occlusion are closely related, it is advisable to schedule the first visit to the dentist at the age of the formation of a row of milk teeth.
Fixing a permanent bite is much more difficult than correcting a milk bite. This is due to the fact that permanent teeth have deep and strong solid roots, the bite system has already settled in its irregular shape.
Bite correction
Modern braces are used to correct permanent occlusion. This is a rather complicated invention that allows you to align the dentition, but it takes time. On average, a bracket system is worn for about twenty months, if the situation is difficult, then longer. The peculiarity of this type of orthodontic treatment is that after the installation of braces, you need to wear them to the bitter end - if you interrupt the treatment ahead of time, your teethjust return to the starting position. In especially difficult abnormal cases, orthodontists use the removal of "extra" teeth to give the rest the opportunity to take a natural position.
In childhood, instead of braces, a vestibular plate is used for a milk bite, but even if after it problems are found that require orthodontic treatment, it happens much faster. Dentists recommend installing a bracket system in middle school age, when the teeth are still in a pliable state for correction. At the moment, there are several types of systems that allow you to correct the bite quite comfortably and aesthetically. Almost invisible transparent braces or with the ability to match the lining to the color of the tooth enamel, or even a system that is attached from the inside, which is completely invisible to other people.
Paying attention to the correct development of milk teeth in a child, you are laying the foundation for minimizing problems in the future.
