As an infant grows, their facial structures, including the jaw will begin to undergo numerous changes. Correct child jaw development is vital for the overall health, function, and appearance of the little one’s face. As a new parent, you need to learn of the factors involved in guiding the development of their facial features.
For example, did you know that the muscles and soft tissue can influence jaw growth? Disorders targeting either of the two can impair normal jaw growth. Typical indicators of dysfunction can include:

  • A low tongue position
  • Improper swallowing techniques
  • A resting mouth posture
  • Overly active muscles
  • Pacifier/long-term thumb habits

While there are many types of oral dysfunctions, it’s possible to treat them all with timely orthodontic intervention. Early intervention also assists in preventing other complications that may arise due to abnormal jaw development. Examples of such complications include abnormal tooth wear, sleep apnea, and speech and chewing problems.

Stages of Jaw Development in Children

As your pediatric orthodontics will tell you on your first visit, dental development in kids begins way before birth. The process continues until the child attains 21 years. The first set of teeth will start to develop when the little one is in their sixth week of gestational development. If the teeth erupt within 30 days of being born, we refer to them as natal teeth.
Often, many kids will have a complete set of 20 primary teeth by their 3rd birthday. By the time they’re turning six years, the primary teeth will have started to fall out. This loosening and eventual fallout helps pave the way for the adult teeth to develop. Please note that the permanent teeth will begin to appear between the ages of six and seven.

Understanding the Different Stages of Dental Development

1. Eruption of Primary Teeth

The first stage of dental development is characterized by the eruption of primary teeth. It’s a process that begins when the little one is around six months old. Once it starts, it will continue until your child attains three years. By the time they attain 36 months of age, they should have developed all 20 primary teeth.

2. Development of the Permanent Teeth

The second stage involves the eruption of the permanent teeth. This stage starts when your child turns six and should end by their 12th birthday. At this point, all the primary teeth should have fallen out.
As you’ll note, this process is gradual, and the first teeth to appear will be the central incisors. The lateral incisors will come next, followed by the canine teeth. Molars are usually the last to appear. Make sure to consult with a pediatric orthodontist to help you understand the significance of two-year molars and their impact on jaw alignment and oral development.

Your child may experience some discomfort as the permanent teeth erupt. Common signs of discomfort include mild jaw pain, tooth sensitivity, and gum tenderness. You can use over the counter pain medication to alleviate this discomfort.

3. Root Resorption and Replacement

In the third stage of child jaw development, the roots of their primary teeth will start to dissolve. As this happens, the roots of their permanent teeth will begin to replace the resorbed roots. Permanent teeth should begin to erupt by the sixth birthday. But please note that this can vary from one child to the next. The root resorption process will end when the erupted tooth attains its final position.

4. Shedding and Emergence of New Tooth

Shedding, which is the loss of primary teeth, will happen when the child is between six and seven years. The first teeth to fall off will be the two upper front teeth, followed closely by the lower set. This process will continue in a certain order until all the primary teeth have fallen off.
When it comes to the emergence of new teeth, the first set of permanent molars will erupt at around six years. The remaining teeth will emerge one by one in the following years, coming to a stop at age 21.

5. Enamel Mineralization and Maturation

Enamel mineralization and maturation happen during the fifth stage of jaw development. Mineralization refers to the deposit of minerals into the tooth’s enamel layer. It begins as soon as eruption has happened and will continue until the tooth becomes fully grown. Maturation is a process where the enamel layer hardens, allowing it to become resistant to wear and tear. It also starts after eruption and continues until the tooth is grown.

6. Malocclusion, Periodontal Diseases, and Dental Caries

This is a stage that overlaps with the onset of puberty. The roots of the baby teeth will begin resorption, allowing the permanent teeth to erupt. As this happens, your child may experience diverse dental issues, including malocclusion, periodontal diseases, and dental caries.
The latter is a bacterial infection known to damage the hard tissue of a child’s teeth. We view it as a chronic disease targeting both kids and adults. If left unchecked for long, it can lead to tooth loss, gum infections, and extreme pain and discomfort.
Malocclusion refers to the misalignment of the jaws or teeth. It’s a condition that can affect chewing and speaking. We have also seen it contribute to tooth decay and other conditions, such as gum disease. Click here to discover how a rapid palatal expander can aid in correcting jaw discrepancies during early development.

7. The Full Set

At the last stage, all the baby teeth will have fallen off, and in their place will be a set of adult teeth. The seventh stage typically starts between the ages of 12 and 13.

Signs of Healthy Jaw Development

There are three main factors which can affect your little one’s facial development: sealed lips, tongue posture, and nasal breathing. If any of these factors get disregarded, the child will experience jaw development issues. They may also face other issues such as stunted teeth growth.
Some of the habits that may affect jaw development in your child include:

  • Poor oral positions
  • Incorrect tongue posture
  • Genetics
  • Thumb sucking

To know whether your child’s jaw is developing correctly, be on the lookout for these three signs:

  1. Absence of jaw pain or discomfort
  2. Alignment of top and bottom teeth when the mouth is closed
  3. Even spacing of baby teeth

Common Jaw Development Issues

As your little one’s jaw develops, there’s always a risk that it may grow too little or too much. Either of these can happen whenever an issue arises in the process of jawbone formation. If an impairment occurs during jaw growth, certain issues may arise. Examples of these include a problem speaking and eating and even a misaligned bite.
Knowing how to spot the signs of jaw problems can enable you to seek early orthodontic care. Remember, jaw deformities can occur as an isolated event or because of an underlying problem. Some of the jaw development issues you need to know about include:

1. Underbite

An underbite refers to a lower jaw misalignment that causes the lower teeth to protrude further than those in the upper jaw. In an ideal situation, both sets of teeth should fit together, with those in the upper jaw overlapping the others slightly. While this is a genetic problem, it can also arise because of mouth breathing. Other potential causes include tongue sucking and thumb sucking.

Potential Underbite Complications

Underbites can cause a range of complications, including TMJ disorder. This disorder can lead to other complications, such as clicking or popping of the jaw. If left untreated, your child is likely to experience speech problems, chronic mouth breathing, and recurrent headaches. As you learn more about underbites, you may also want to explore the relationship between proper jaw alignment and breathing issues such as sleep apnea in children.

2. Overbite

The other name for an overbite is “buck teeth.” Overbites occur when the teeth in the upper jaw protrude over those in the lower jaw. While a small overlap is normal, too much of one is viewed as a dental complication. Buck teeth have several causes, including gum disease, improperly fitted crowns, and genetics.
When left unchecked, buck teeth can cause numerous complications in children, including:

  • Speech impediments
  • Difficulty or chronic pain when chewing
  • Cavities
  • Gum disease
  • Tooth decay
  • Jaw pain

We generally recommend braces for kids who have an overbite. Properly fitted braces can assist in getting the upper and lower teeth aligned, helping prevent some of these complications. Consider consulting a pediatric dentist to learn the signs that may indicate your child needs braces and how these treatments can benefit their dental health.

3. Crossbite

An early orthodontic assessment can help in detecting a crossbite. This is a dental complication which occurs when the top and bottom teeth can’t bite in the correct position. It’s a condition whose causes include jaw position, tooth position, or a blend of the two. Crossbites occur in two ways:

  • An Anterior Crossbite: It happens when the child’s top front teeth sit behind their lower teeth when trying to bite down. The condition is like an underbite despite the two being different.
  • A Posterior Crossbite: It occurs when the front teeth sit inside the lower teeth when the child is biting down.

Potential Crossbite Complications

Failure to care for your children’s oral health may lead to a crossbite, which can cause teeth grinding and gum recession. In the long-term, this condition can also affect the child’s facial structure. It’s best to schedule regular dental appointments to enable you to find out what to do in case of dental emergencies and how they can affect your child’s jaw development.

When to Seek Orthodontic Intervention

Now that you know the different child jaw development stages, it’s time to learn of the importance of early intervention. From a developmental view, early orthodontic treatment helps detect issues at a time when they’re still easy to treat.
There are several ways to help you determine when to consider orthodontic evaluation for children. For example, you should consider visiting our offices if any of the following behaviors have become a concern:

If you think your little one can benefit from early orthodontic care, don’t hesitate to visit our offices. During your visit, you’ll learn about the importance of healthy jaw alignment, including ways to care for the emerging teeth. You’ll also get tips on managing orthodontic issues at home that may arise as your child’s jaw grows and develops.

Benefits of Early Orthodontic Treatment

Whenever a new parent hears of orthodontic treatment, the first thing that comes to mind is braces. But as you have probably learned by now, this is not the only option available to children. In fact, there are several options available, which range from space maintainers to sealants. A visit to a specialized pediatric orthodontist allows you to see how dental sealants work and why they are important for protecting against decay as your child’s jaw develops.

Why Pediatric Orthodontic Care

Every parent wants their child to be happy and confident. Early dental care is crucial to your little one’s health. If you are not yet convinced that it’s time to invest in their health, you should take your time to learn more about the benefits of early orthodontic treatment and why timely intervention is crucial.

  • Improved Oral Health: Properly positioned teeth allow for better oral hygiene practices. Crooked teeth make it easy for bacteria to hide in hard-to-reach areas. This can lead to gum disease and even tooth decay.
  • Better Speech: Speech impediments are likely to arise when a child has misaligned teeth. This can interfere with the correct functioning of their tongue(s) making it hard to articulate sounds. Early orthodontic care can assist in correcting misalignment.
  • Decreased Risk of Injury: Teeth that are inadequately straightened make the child vulnerable to injury. Teeth that stick out are more susceptible to chipping or being kicked out than those that are correctly positioned.

Conclusion

The monitoring of child jaw development should include scheduling regular visits to pediatric orthodontists. These visits will assist in the early detection of dental complications such as underbites, overbites, and crossbites. Their detection will then pave the way for their correction, which may include the use of sealants or braces. It also assists in preventing the emergence of other health complications, e.g., sleep apnea.
To learn more about early orthodontic intervention, make sure to give our team in Richmond, TX, a call today!

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