The Influence of Sucking and Feeding Type on Bite Development
Prolonged use of a pacifier (dummy) can lead to the formation of malocclusion, particularly an open bite. A similar effect is caused by the habit of thumb sucking.
There is a difference between artificial and breastfeeding. During natural feeding, the child must make an effort: in order to extract milk, it is necessary to move the lower jaw forward and actively work the muscles. Such a sucking reflex promotes the proper development and adaptation of the lower jaw to the forward position.
In artificial feeding, this kind of load does not occur; therefore, breastfeeding ensures more physiological growth and development of the jaws.
It is also important to take into account that the child must be alternately applied to both the left and right breast — this ensures symmetrical development of the facial skeleton.
Interesting research data: children who were breastfed for more than 6 months were significantly less likely to develop the habit of daily thumb or pacifier sucking.
Recommendations for pacifier use:
- Up to 6 months — the pacifier is considered acceptable and even useful (reduces the risk of sudden infant death syndrome, helps calm the child).
- 6–12 months — the pacifier can be used in moderation, preferably only for falling asleep or in stressful situations.
- After one year — it is advisable to wean the child from the pacifier.
Factors Affecting Bite Formation in Childhood
There are no cases where malocclusion corrects itself. In most situations, the involvement of an orthodontist, ENT doctor, and myotherapist is required.
The proper development of a child’s bite is influenced by many factors.
Among them:
- Heredity.
- Lifestyle and health condition.
What is meant by lifestyle?
If a child frequently suffers from acute respiratory infections, allergic rhinitis, or has adenoids, this can lead to impaired nasal breathing. When a child begins to breathe through the mouth, the following changes occur:
- An open bite and the characteristic “adenoid face” are formed.
- The pressure of the cheek muscles on the upper palate prevents the growth of the upper jaw.
- Underdevelopment of the upper jaw does not allow the lower jaw to occupy its physiological forward position.
- As a result, the lower jaw remains in a distal position, which additionally narrows the airways.
Thus, a whole complex of problems develops: breathing disorders, jaw displacement, and the formation of malocclusion.
What parents should pay attention to:
If a child frequently suffers from colds, breathes through the mouth while talking, playing sports, or even while calmly watching cartoons — this is a warning signal.
In such cases, it is necessary to consult both an ENT specialist and an orthodontist in order to correct breathing in a timely manner and prevent the development of serious orthodontic pathologies.
Fixed Appliances for Maxillary Expansion in Children
In addition to removable plates, modern orthodontics widely uses fixed appliances, such as the Marco Rossi or Haas appliances.
Advantages:
- The appliance is fixed to the upper jaw and attached to the primary canines and primary second molars.
- The child cannot remove or lose it, so the appliance works continuously.
- Parents receive a special key for activations: usually 1–2 times a day over the course of two weeks.
- After the active expansion phase is completed, the screw is sealed with material to prevent reverse unwinding.
- The appliance remains in the mouth for another 3–6 months to stabilize the result.
Treatment features:
- Sometimes two-stage treatment is required. For example, if there are no gaps between the primary teeth, the orthodontist may fix the appliance earlier.
- It is important to consider possible drawbacks: difficulties with oral hygiene and restriction of the natural position of the tongue and its contact with the palate.
Alternative:
Removable plates are often lost by children or not worn regularly. In this case, fixed appliances are a more reliable option, providing continuous influence on the jaw.
Additional Methods of Early Orthodontic Treatment
In addition to Haas or Marco Rossi appliances, other approaches are also used in practice.
Partial Braces System
- Fixed to permanent teeth: central and lateral incisors, as well as the first molars (sixth teeth).
- In some cases, only the upper jaw is corrected, while the lower jaw adapts automatically, depending on the initial pathology of the bite.
Orthodontic Gnathological Splints
- Before installation, full diagnostics are performed: X-ray, calculation of bite height, model casting, and placement in an articulator.
- Based on these data, the technician fabricates precise positioning splints in the form of miniature crowns, which are fixed to the primary teeth.
The Importance of Timely Consultation with an Orthodontist
The optimal age is around 5.5 years.
Treatment of children is conditionally divided into two periods:
- primary (deciduous) dentition,
- mixed dentition.
Strategies for Preventing Malocclusion
Primary Dentition
- Elimination of ENT pathologies: adenoids, frequent acute respiratory infections, allergic rhinitis.
- Control of harmful habits: thumb sucking, prolonged use of a pacifier, poor posture.
- Muscle training — a myotherapist teaches the child the correct position of the tongue during chewing, swallowing, and at rest.
- Frenulum correction.
- Oral cavity sanitation: joint tooth brushing with parents up to 10–11 years of age, professional cleaning every 3–4 months, treatment of caries at early stages.
Mixed Dentition
- Development and expansion of dental arches: maxillary expansion appliances, partial braces system.
- Functional appliances for guiding the growth of the lower jaw.
- Monitoring the development of permanent teeth: regular X-rays, observation of tooth germs.
- Germectomy method (Vienna University experience): removal of the buds of the lower third molars at 10–11 years old to prevent future crowding.
- Functional work: breathing, tongue position, muscle symmetry.
- Posture and physical activity: corrective exercises, osteopath involvement if necessary.
Extraction of Premolars: An Outdated Approach
Premolars are permanent teeth that erupt right after the canines. Previously, in orthodontic practice, a method of extracting premolars was used when there was insufficient space in the dental arch.
Why the method was used in the past:
Orthodontists did not have modern tools such as multi-loop archwires, mini-screws, and advanced alloys. When it was not possible to expand the jaw, premolars were extracted to create additional space.
Why we are against it today:
- underdevelopment of the upper jaw,
- disruption of the harmony of facial skeletal growth,
- high risk of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) pathology,
- deterioration in quality of life over the years.
Modern approach:
Today it is possible to preserve all teeth (except wisdom teeth). To correct crowding, the following methods are used:
- jaw expansion,
- multi-loop archwires,
- orthodontic mini-screws,
- modern elastic archwires.
Our principle:
We strongly advocate preserving all natural teeth, with the exception of the third molars (wisdom teeth). This approach ensures not only an attractive smile but also stable oral health for many years.
Why Early Intervention in Bite Formation Is Important
The earlier a child’s malocclusion is identified, the more effectively it is possible to influence the growth and development of the jaws.
What parents should pay attention to:
- By the age of 4–5 years, spaces should be present in the primary dentition.
- If the teeth are “lined up straight, without gaps,” this is a warning sign: the upper jaw is not growing, and consequently, the lower jaw is also not developing.
How correction works:
- Expanding the upper jaw creates conditions for its growth and stimulates the adaptation of the lower jaw forward.
- This activates the growth of the mandibular branches and contributes to proper development.
- The sequential eruption of teeth, as intended by nature, ensures the proper formation of the temporomandibular joint.
Tasks for parents and doctors:
- Maintain good oral hygiene: regular tooth brushing and caries prevention.
- Eliminate harmful habits: thumb sucking, pacifier use, excessive use of gadgets.
- Provide chewing load: a child needs solid food (carrots, apples, meat), which develops the muscles and stimulates bone growth.
Age for orthodontic treatment:
In adolescence, treatment is carried out after the eruption of all permanent teeth, including the second molars (sevenths). If braces are placed earlier, a significant portion of treatment time will be spent waiting for these teeth to erupt.
However, it is important to have an orthodontic consultation as early as 5.5 years to assess the development of the jaws. If no pathology is detected, visits every six months are sufficient.
Stages of treatment:
- First stage — early childhood (up to 10–11 years): special appliances are used to correct the bite and guide jaw growth.
- Second stage — adolescence: comprehensive orthodontic treatment with a braces system after the eruption of all permanent teeth.
If the first stage of treatment was carried out on time and with quality, the second stage is faster and easier. Moreover, early intervention helps prevent the development of severe skeletal pathologies that in the future could require surgical treatment.