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Los Angeles Orthodontist Educates Parents on Early Childhood Disorders For Orthodontic Health Month

September 18, 2007 -Los Angeles and Santa Monica, California – Myriad childhood dental disorders can be addressed and corrected through orthodontic treatment.

But parents can take steps to minimize the length of time their children might spend in orthodontic treatment by educating themselves on some common early childhood disorders and taking steps to correct them during their early stages, said Los Angeles Orthodontist Dr. Atoosa Nikaeen.

Nikaeen and her staff are addressing common early childhood dental disorders as part of their education campaign for National Orthodontic Health Month, which is in October.

 “It is of utmost importance that parents be educated on early childhood disorders and when to start orthodontic treatment,” Nikaeen said. “They also should be aware of issues that could affect children’s jaw and facial growth at an early age and what treatment will do for them.”

Some children need braces as a result of bad mouth habits, such as thumb-sucking, tongue thrusting and mouth breathing, Nikaeen said.

Thumb-Sucking
Sucking the thumb or fingers can cause localized teeth and supporting bone deformation if children continue the habit beyond age four or five, when permanent teeth are preparing to erupt.

Prolonged thumb-sucking can cause protruding upper teeth, crooked lower teeth and a narrow upper palate. If the habit proves hard to break, Nikaeen recommends seeing an orthodontist to install a mechanical device in the child's mouth, which eliminates the pleasurable sensation of thumb-sucking and often can prevent the need for future orthodontic work.

Tongue Thrusting
Tongue thrusting is another bad habit that can result in the need for orthodontic treatment, Nikaeen said. Tongue thrusting is when a child exerts pressure on the teeth by pushing his or her tongue between the teeth when swallowing. It also involves an improper resting position of the tongue, both of which can force teeth out of alignment and cause a malocclusion.

Treatment programs or myofunctional therapy can be effective to correct the problem, Nikaeen said. Proper nasal breathing often is essential for continued success in treating this issue.

Mouth Breathing
If mouth breathing- another common early childhood disorder- also is present, an ear, nose and throat examination and recommended treatment should be done first, she said.

Mouth breathing often is caused by obstructed nasal passages or allergies and can lead to serious malocclusions, Nikaeen said.  It can cause facial deformities that can result in the need for jaw surgery to correct if left untreated for a long time.

“Early orthodontic treatment has made great strides in correcting these types of disorders in less invasive manners than surgery,” Nikaeen said.

Other Growth Discrepancies
While the abovementioned disorders tend to be the result of poor habits, some orthodontic issues can be hereditary. Examples of those include excessive overjet and over bites, cross bites, and impacted teeth, Nikaeen said.

“These conditions often can be addressed early on, which can make improving the malocclusion easier,” she said.

Learn More
If you would like to learn more about early childhood dental disorders and orthodontic treatment for them, visit Dr. Nikaeen’s Web site: www.invisibraces.com or call her office for a free consultation: (310) 444-1113.

About Dr. Atoosa Nikaeen
Dr. Nikaeen graduated with honors from dental school in 1993 and received a doctorate in dental surgery (DDS). She gained experience practicing general dentistry for several years before attending Columbia University School of Dentistry and Oral Surgeons in New York, where she earned her post-doctoral education in orthodontics and received an orthodonticspecialty certificate.

In addition to running her practice, Dr. Nikaeen is a faculty member at the University of California in Los Angeles (UCLA) Orthodontic Department and teaches orthodontic residents.

Dr. Nikaeen’s Los Angeles practice serves patients throughout Southern California, including Beverly Hills and Santa Monica.
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