Adult teeth coming in crooked??

[N&B'smom]

So, my DD6 continues to do nothing but stress me out with her teeth related issues. She fell at two and broke the top two middle ones. Then last summer she FINALLY lost them but they had to be pulled since the adult teeth were coming in behind them but they weren't getting loose enough to come out and were actually being pushed up the front of her gums!

Anyway, she is 6 years old and has lost 8 teeth (top and bottom middle 4). She has her top two middle ones and her bottom two middle ones. I just noticed tonight that both teeth next to the middle ones on the bottom are coming in and they are coming in SOOOOOO crooked because there isn't enough room for them because the space between her middle one and the incisor is too small.

Should I be worried they will be super crooked? Will they help loosen the other tooth next to it? When that tooth comes out if the tooth I'm referring to is crooked will it straighten out when there is room? Anyone have a similar experience?

I just know her future orthodontist would be saying CHA-CHING if he could see her.

 

[bumbershoot]

Well...remember, her face is going to get bigger along with her jaw. So I really wouldn't be concerned with this. And...just don't let an orthodontist see her! My mom got sucked into ortho stuff when I was 9, and he made all sorts of pronouncements and I ended up in braces a couple years later. And once I became an adult, my jaw was bigger than when I was a teen, and now I have room in the back of my jaw that I didn't before. So great I had those teeth pulled and dealt with all that pain, right?


DS is getting his first permanent molar right now, and two teeth are loose, so I've been looking up dentition charts. That first adult molar comes in at the back, then teeth in front of the molars start getting "replaced", and then slowly the back molar comes in, and of course there are also the wisdom teeth which no dentist allows to just stay anymore...

The point is, the mouth's setup is kind of genius, how those molars come in and hold the place for the changes on the way!

So I wouldn't mess with it (and we're not planning on messing with it for DS)!

If you start getting too worried about life without "perfect" teeth, go watch Chuck, and see how incredibly gorgeous the main female star is, despite (or because of) having slightly twisty (and awesome) teeth. I can't imagine her being *that* pretty with teeth that have been "hollywooded", and hope no producer ever talks her into "fixing" them.

I'm sure your girl will be fine. She will grow and her teeth will have room to move around.

 

[PirateSnowmen]

I had somewhat of the same problem when I was younger. When my teeth came in crooked they stayed crooked. The dentist once pulled one of my top incisors (it was loose) and there wasn't any room for it, so it stayed in the gum. It took over a year from the time he pulled it to even become visible. It eventually came down with the help of braces.

I ended up having a set of braces in 3rd grade for a year, another set of braces in 6th grade for a couple of years, and a whole bunch of appliances in between. I had to have a device that actually widened my top jaw because it was too small. After my braces were off for good I went through a bunch of retainers that shifted my teeth because my teeth kept moving even after the braces came off (I now have permanent retainers on the back of both my top and bottom teeth). I won't even bother mentioning any of the other mouth/jaw related problems I've had

Sorry to get off topic a bit, but chances are if the teeth are crooked now, they'll mostly stay crooked. That's what I've learned from my experience - take it for what it's worth.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I would not worry about it "costing more" if she has a few crooked teeth.

Your ortho is going to be expensive no matter how crooked or nice your teeth are.

My 13yodd is getting braces soon and count your blessings really. She is missing 2 teeth and so we are going to leave 2 gaps in which if all goes to plan where she will get 2 implants. Now implants are not covered and they run from 6-8000 per tooth.

She is recovering from oral surgery where she had a frenectomy and 3 baby teeth pulled. For whatever reason her baby teeth did NOT want to come out.

 

[Magic Mom]

Don't worry, that's what orthodontists are for (despite what other people may tell you.)
DS had to have braces. His teeth are beautiful now. From my experience, orthos try not to pull permanent teeth unnecessarily. DS didn't have to have any pulled, and I asked DD's ortho about it and he said that is a last resort.

 

[golfgal]

6 is pretty early to get your adult teeth, especially your top front teeth so her mouth is probably not large enough to handle them yet. I wouldn't worry about it so much. There is nothing you can do at this point in time-unless your orthodontist recommends a palate expander. The orthodontists around here will do free monitoring of kids' teeth so they can address any problems early. Make an appointment with an orthodontist or two to see if they think it is an issue.

 

[janets]

Age 6 is still young to worry about orthodontia. Most recommend a visit by 7-8 to be sure there are no structural issues like a crossbite that need to be addressed, but crooked teeth can be dealt with later on.

DS7 also has 8 permanent teeth and the top two are turned on an angle. He's got crowding and really, I call his mouth a mess. Our ortho said he can turn the front two now if we want, but it would result in buck teeth for a while, or we can wait and deal with them when we do the rest. DS is not bothered and while I wish they weren't so turned, really, it's not that big a deal at 7.

I would just ask your dentist if they think there is an issue with the teeth that would prevent other permanent ones from coming down successfully and go from there. Most know what they are looking at and a panoramic xray can tell them an awful lot about placement and crowding.

Don't stress it now. Good luck.

 

[Magic Mom]

Well...remember, her face is going to get bigger along with her jaw. So I really wouldn't be concerned with this. And...just don't let an orthodontist see her! My mom got sucked into ortho stuff when I was 9, and he made all sorts of pronouncements and I ended up in braces a couple years later. And once I became an adult, my jaw was bigger than when I was a teen, and now I have room in the back of my jaw that I didn't before. So great I had those teeth pulled and dealt with all that pain, right?


DS is getting his first permanent molar right now, and two teeth are loose, so I've been looking up dentition charts. That first adult molar comes in at the back, then teeth in front of the molars start getting "replaced", and then slowly the back molar comes in, and of course there are also the wisdom teeth which no dentist allows to just stay anymore...

The point is, the mouth's setup is kind of genius, how those molars come in and hold the place for the changes on the way!

So I wouldn't mess with it (and we're not planning on messing with it for DS)!

If you start getting too worried about life without "perfect" teeth, go watch Chuck, and see how incredibly gorgeous the main female star is, despite (or because of) having slightly twisty (and awesome) teeth. I can't imagine her being *that* pretty with teeth that have been "hollywooded", and hope no producer ever talks her into "fixing" them.

I'm sure your girl will be fine. She will grow and her teeth will have room to move around.

Are you talking about this woman? Her teeth are barely crooked. You can't use her as a reason NOT to get braces. She doesn't need braces. If I can afford it, it would be cruel for me not to address my child's teeth issues. Very crowded teeth aren't just a cosmetic problem, they can cause other dental problems as well.

Have you ever considered that the common denominator between all your inept medical professionals is you? Maybe some of your problems stem from you and not all of them.

 

[aprilgail2]

Don't worry, that's what orthodontists are for (despite what other people may tell you.)
DS had to have braces. His teeth are beautiful now. From my experience, orthos try not to pull permanent teeth unnecessarily. DS didn't have to have any pulled, and I asked DD's ortho about it and he said that is a last resort.

I TOTALLY agree!! You don't want your child going through life with crooked teeth- you are handicapping them in many ways if you to! Crooked teeth are equated with low class/income...maybe it is not true but that is how many many people look at it.
Most orthodontists will see your child starting at about 5 and just take xrays and monitor them for no cost (and no committment)...my daughter got her braces on when she was 9- has had them a year now and her teeth look 100 percent better already. She was so not happy with her teeth before the braces, got to a point where she wouldn't smile and show her teeth- now she gives big giant brace filled smiles in all pictures. She is so happy to have gotten them. She ended up having to have a couple baby teeth pulled because they just shattered into pieces and wouldn't come out but she had to have that even if she had no braces.
By 4th grade many kids already have palate expanders since it is much easier when they are younger to get everything in place and ready for braces. Palate expanders are not "torture devices" as one person may tell you....go for a orth consultation-it will at least give you an idea of what the future treatment options are. Cost really goes by where you live- some on here say they paid as little as 3500...here I didn't find one cheaper than 6,000.

 

[luvmy3]

Has she been to the dentist and gotten Xrays? I was so worried about my dd when her adult teeth were coming in because it was almost like they were fanned out like a deck of cards with them coming in crooked. My younges ds 6 is going to have the exact same problem. My dentist has told me repeatedly not to worry about anyting yet. Their X rays show nothing to be concerned with and their jaws are still growing. I have to say that I absolutely love that there is no pressure to see the Ortho for them based on what he sees. What does your dentist say?

 

[torinsmom]

Kids are getting braces so early nowadays, before their teeth are even all in! I am glad my DS's dentist told me to wait until all his permanent teeth were in for an ortho consult. His teeth were bad, with lots of space and teeth almost sideways. He got braces at 12 and got them off right before his 15th birthday, and they look great!

Marsha

 

[mjkacmom]

Well, being that it seems like 99.9% of kids get braces today, just save up the $5000 - $6000 it's going to cost. I know so many adults who wore braces in their 30's because they're teeth were "good enough" in the 1980's to not need braces. Teeth are probably one of the first things that people look at, and judge (last night I ran into someone from HS that recognized me, but I didn't recognize her, and I was trying to explain to DH - who I went to school with - who she was, and my description was she looks great, except for her teeth, and he knew who I was talking about).

All of mine definitely need braces, for crowding and cross-bites, except for ds11, who's top teeth are almost perfect, but has some crowding on the bottom, so he'll get braces - DH never had them, but now that he's in his 40's, the crowded bottom ones show when he smiles.

 

[mjkacmom]

I TOTALLY agree!! You don't want your child going through life with crooked teeth- you are handicapping them in many ways if you to! Crooked teeth are equated with low class/income...maybe it is not true but that is how many many people look at it.
Most orthodontists will see your child starting at about 5 and just take xrays and monitor them for no cost (and no committment)...my daughter got her braces on when she was 9- has had them a year now and her teeth look 100 percent better already. She was so not happy with her teeth before the braces, got to a point where she wouldn't smile and show her teeth- now she gives big giant brace filled smiles in all pictures. She is so happy to have gotten them. She ended up having to have a couple baby teeth pulled because they just shattered into pieces and wouldn't come out but she had to have that even if she had no braces.
By 4th grade many kids already have palate expanders since it is much easier when they are younger to get everything in place and ready for braces. Palate expanders are not "torture devices" as one person may tell you....go for a orth consultation-it will at least give you an idea of what the future treatment options are. Cost really goes by where you live- some on here say they paid as little as 3500...here I didn't find one cheaper than 6,000.

My dd13 had a hard time of getting rid of the palate expander, because she was such a slow teether, and had it for years, and our ortho refuses to pull baby teeth. Our ortho also said ds11 could go either way, it's up to me - he doesn't push anything. I wish there were palate expanders when I was a kid - I had several baby teeth pulled, and 6 adult teeth.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

My dd13 had a hard time of getting rid of the palate expander, because she was such a slow teether, and had it for years, and our ortho refuses to pull baby teeth. Our ortho also said ds11 could go either way, it's up to me - he doesn't push anything. I wish there were palate expanders when I was a kid - I had several baby teeth pulled, and 6 adult teeth.

That is interesting.

My dd's 3 baby teeth HAD to come out because her adult teeth were coming in and since her baby teeth had HUGE roots they were going to another spot in her mouth.

She did not need a palate expander though.

 

[Mickeypooh99]

I wouldn't worry about crooked teeth. They can be fixed. My son is missing one tooth. I really don't understand why, but it never came in after the baby tooth fell out. He has his 2 front teeth, and the one on the left of those just isn't there.

What is even stranger is my husband is also missing that tooth, but it is because of an injury as a child. So he did have it at one time. He ended up with braces to push his teeth together. No one even realizes it is missing.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I wouldn't worry about crooked teeth. They can be fixed. My son is missing one tooth. I really don't understand why, but it never came in after the baby tooth fell out. He has his 2 front teeth, and the one on the left of those just isn't there.

What is even stranger is my husband is also missing that tooth, but it is because of an injury as a child. So he did have it at one time. He ended up with braces to push his teeth together. No one even realizes it is missing.

Well my dd's are missing 2 uppers. It is genetic on dh's side of the family.

With my older dd who is 18, we had her teeth pushed together mainly because she has a repaired heart defect and tooth implants are not a good idea due to infection.

The orthos could never get her bite right. It really sucked.

Now that younger dd is getting her braces we are going for the spaces and then she will either get implants, which is the preferred thing or she will have a bridge.

There is a chance that her roots may not move enough over for implants.

So now that I am looking back at older dd, the orthos should have said something about her getting a bridge instead of implants. I should have realized it however it never crossed my mind. FAIL on my part.

 

[CathrynRose]

Well...remember, her face is going to get bigger along with her jaw. So I really wouldn't be concerned with this. And...just don't let an orthodontist see her! My mom got sucked into ortho stuff when I was 9, and he made all sorts of pronouncements and I ended up in braces a couple years later. And once I became an adult, my jaw was bigger than when I was a teen, and now I have room in the back of my jaw that I didn't before. So great I had those teeth pulled and dealt with all that pain, right?


.

I have to totally disagree with you. Big time.

My son just got his braces off - at 14.5 (got them when he was mayyyybe 12-ish??) Anyways.... I had waited, as he still had baby teeth. I (mistakingly) assumed we should wait until he had all his adult teeth.

Well, by age 12, he still had baby teeth - I went to the Ortho for the consultation thinking we'd be able to get things rolling. With crooked top teeth, and a slight underbite, no big deal. Right? Wrong....

Had I brought him in at age 8, 9, 10 - whatever - they could have intervened with the underbite. Not at 12. He's looking at jaw surgery when he's 'done growing', if he wants his underbite - fixed.

Apparently the bottom jaw continues to grow - not the top. Had we intervened while that bone is still soft (i.e. 8,9,10 - whatever) they could have held that jaw back, while expanding the top, making them line up correctly.

So now he has a gorgeous stunning top jaw. Perfect! And when he smiles, this is all you see - but that being said, he has an underbite! And if he chooses, as an adult, to line these teeth up - they have to break his jaw, saw down bone, and move it back.

I'd see an ortho now, and see what they say. The thought of my 'baby' having to have a surgery like that, even as an adult is a scary thought.

ETA - #1 - he STILL has baby teeth, so I would have been waiting a loooong time and #2 - unaligned jaws and teeth can cause headaches, too. I'd do it now.

One more ETA - Danny didn't have to have any teeth pulled. And he had a smalllllll top palette. They did a palette extender, and it worked just fine.


.

 

[Pakey]

My teeth were so crooked that I wore braces for 12 years; I started going to an orthodontist at 6. I still wear permanent retainers and I'm 53 now.

Thank goodness my parents did worry enough to take me at 6 to get started on the process. I had some serious issues that would have been compounded had they waited.

 

[minkydog]

Should I be worried they will be super crooked? Will they help loosen the other tooth next to it? When that tooth comes out if the tooth I'm referring to is crooked will it straighten out when there is room? Anyone have a similar experience?

I just know her future orthodontist would be saying CHA-CHING if he could see her.

I don't know of very many adults who didn't have some crooked teeth in their youth. When I was a kid you didn't get braces unless your dad was making big bucks. So in my little hometown everybody had crooked teeth, buck teeth, overbites, underbites. We all looked pretty inbred. Today it's different. Orthodontia is more affordable and more available.

Both of my older kids have had a ton of orthodontic work. DD16 has had braces TWICE. About $10,000 worth. She takes excellent care of her teeth and wears her retainer every night. Her teeth are beautiful. I'm so glad that we had dental insurance to help with the cost of repairing her smile. DS23 wore an appliance to spread his palate which would eventually allow all his teeth to come in. He also wore braces. Over$5000 in his mouth. Unfortunately, he was very non-compliant with treatment and he dumped the retainer when he got the braces off. Now at age 23 his teeth are looking pretty uneven, like he never even had braces.

 

[N&B'smom]

Thanks for all the responses. I have no doubt she WILL be getting braces. I had them when I was a kid and thank goodness I did, my one middle top tooth was at a very odd angle.

Anyway, my DS10 who was seen by the ortho goes back sometime in July (he only has two baby teeth left and he wants to wait), I will bring my DD with me and ask them if they think she should come in for a consult. She does have a tiny little face with big honkin' teeth!