6yo has been referred to orthodontist.

[EustaciaVye]

Tiny mouth so not enough room for adult teeth. The two top ones have filled the gap from the four baby teeth and there is no space for the others to grow. Apparently her molars are affected too and one hasn't erupted properly as there isn't enough room. Finally the bottom jaw sticks out more than the top ...can't remember if that is overbite or under?

Feel quite sad. I had orthodontic treatment at 13 for overcrowding. Had teeth out and fixed braces for two years. But, dd is six!

can you give me an idea what to expect?

should also add that dd is very scared of the dentist so this isn't going to be easy.

[Mrsmorton]

Why is she scared of going to the dentist? Why don't you find out which clinic she's been referred to and give them a call?

[NoArmaniNoPunani]

At that age I would guess they are going to do orthotropics which will be much better than traditional orthodontics.

[madrose]

My DD was referred at a similar age for similar reasons. She's 8 now. To date she only goes once a year for X-rays and a check up. We have been told she will need work, but they are letting nature do its bit first. They will only intervene if her teeth cause pain. At the moment, she has a bit of a strange smile, as one adult tooth has erupted behind the baby tooth, and the baby tooth is now sticking out at a 90 degree angle.

HTH

[EustaciaVye]

She has always been frightened. There is no logical reason. Our dentist is lovely and gentle. She needed a filling recently which didn't help, although she didn't notice it being done really...it was more the thought of it.

Not sure where we are being referred yet. I was just told someone would be in touch within 8 weeks.

[EustaciaVye]

Not heard of orthotropics so will go and Google...

[Jenny70]

My DD was referred at 7. Our orthodontist recommends starting work as early as the child can cope with it, giving the adult teeth more of a chance of coming in correctly, thus reducing "repair" works needed later.

My DD had the issue of no room for adult teeth at the front to come down, as well as a too small top jaw - basically her molars don't actually meet.

She now has an expansion plate, we wind it 2-3 times a week to expand her upper jaw. She has coped fine with it, classmates haven't teased her etc for her slight lisp with it, and now others are getting them to (she is now 8). Only issue is her bottom jaw is growing at the same pace as our expansion, so whilst we are making progress, we aren't... but it would be worse with nothing.

[EustaciaVye]

Sounds similar to what you describe Jenny70. I feel a bit reassured, but also a bit sad.
Dd already has squint/glasses and whilst I know there are much worse things in life, it seems a bit unfair

[steeking]

They take the opposite view where we are and wait till older before intervening. Ds has overbite so it was important to catch his prepubertal growth spurt to do adjusting to jaw shape and size. That's usually done around 11-14 years old. Train tracks for wonky teeth are usually done after that as they can be fitted any time.
I understood that adult teeth use the baby teeth as a guide for coming through. At six she won't have any erupted adult teeth and her jaw won't be anywhere near its adult size to correctly assess overcrowding.
I would ask lots of questions especially the implications of waiting , when you see the orthodontist . Presumably its NHS and not a private referral

[steeking]

Just Google orthotropics and now see why you would need an earlier referral if your dds jaw looks similar to the images.

[steeking]

Sorry that should read "I just Googled"

[sOODdragon]

All three of mine had orthodontic treatment (Orthotropics :) from 7. The results have been stunning. Particularly in the case of DS2 who now has a huge wide "Cameron Diaz" smile.

None of them had any teasing, only curiosity. By the time DSs started secondary school, they only had to wear the brace at home so they've avoided the awkward teen years.

Also, no adult teeth will need extracting as the space for them was recovered by use of the expansion brace to re-widen the top jaw - the bottom one kept pace.

[sOODdragon]

Finally the bottom jaw sticks out more than the top ...can't remember if that is overbite or under?

Under bite I think.

[sOODdragon]

Whereabouts are you?

[thehat]

My daughter, aged nine, has just had a brace fitted for an under bite. She was referred when she was six but they waited for a couple of adult teeth to grow before she had the brace.

It is not a train track brace, more a plate along the roof of her mouth and some concealed wiring around her teeth. She has to brush her teeth at school after lunch. She has only had it 6 weeks, and her teeth have already moved. It is amazing.

She has had no teasing - quite the opposite in fact. She became quite a celebrity at school as she is the only person with a brace. The other children were really curious about it.

The orthodontist did say that they wait until a child can cope with cleaning and looking after a brace.

It has all been very positive so far - hope it is for your daughter too.

[EustaciaVye]

steeking - she has lost 8 baby teeth and has four full adult teeth through. a fifth is trying but us coming up sideways as the gap isnt big enough.

[EustaciaVye]

Sooddragon - I will pm you where I am as dont want to put in here. Your post is very reassuring, thank you.

[EustaciaVye]

Thank you Thehat.

I had trakn tracks at 13 and was the first in high school to get them so was called Metal Mickey for a while

[EustaciaVye]

There is also a huge gap between top and bottom adult teeth which have come through....she puts her tongue through it and there is a very slight lisp

[Jenny70]

EustaciaVye, my DD with the dental plate also has a squint and glasses, whereas 2 DS's don't seem to get half her issues... you feel like stomping and thinking it isn't fair (and I know she gets the teeth thing from me)... but she has coped brilliantly, and like someone else says is quite the prestige to have one rather than an element for teasing.

Perhaps if teeth are too crowded they wait to see how much jaw will grow, but if teeth aren't coming down due to no space or molars not meeting they act early? or maybe an individual orthodontist thing?

[haggisaggis]

ds was referred to the orthodontist at around 7 and was seen annually but no treatment until this year (aged 13). He has a small bottom jaw - no overcrowding - and was fitted with twin block braces to stretch the jaw. Which has made a huge difference! ds also wore glasses (now changed to contacts). The orthodontic work has made a huge difference to his confidence so it is definitely worthwhile.

[EustaciaVye]

Thank you Jenny70 and HaggisAggis. It does help. And ye I feel like stomping .

I guess until the referral comes through I am in the dark, although thanks to the advice given here I know a little more about our options and possible causes of treatment.

[Mrsmorton]

Please make sure your DCs get permanent retainers because their teeth will move definitely. It's so frustrating to see people who had years of orthodontics and lose their retainers or stop wearing them and their teeth have moved and they want them moved back but it's too expensive...

[EustaciaVye]

Funny you should say that, Mrs Morton as I am sure my teeth have moved since my treatment as a teen. Think wisdom teeth did it :(

[Mrsmorton]

It's got nothing to do with your wisdom teeth. It's because your teeth are genetically programmed to be where they were. Moving them is like dyeing your hair. They want to be where they were and will keep moving unless you have permanent retention.

Even teeth that haven't been moved by ortho will move during your life, wisdom teeth have no effect on this.

[EustaciaVye]

Ah ok. Makes sense.