How Protruding Teeth Can Cause Traumatic Dental Injuries

Protruding teeth, also known as malocclusion, don’t have that big impact on our day-to-day lives. Many people with misaligned teeth can speak normally without much difficulty. Regularly, protruding teeth are most often a concern due to their aesthetics. However, even mild cases of malocclusion can cause problems we least expect. Malocclusion can make it difficult to brush and floss properly and lead to larger bacteria deposits along with the teeth and gums. Certain habits can even lead to malocclusion developing, including thumb sucking and tongue thrusting. These combined factors contribute to the development of malocclusion and poor oral health.

Studies from Dental Traumatology and Contemporary Clinical Dentistry argue that children have a higher risk of dental trauma based on both the length of the protrusion and the activities children often participate in during their childhood. Dental Traumatology argues that children under six will experience trauma twice more likely if they have a 3mm malocclusion. Children with over 5mm protrusions will have double the risk on top of that. Contemporary Clinical Dentistry attempts to look at the source of their trauma not-related to their dental health and find that the primary causes of childhood dental trauma come from:

    • Trips and Falls: Falling while playing, tripping over one’s feet, and falls related to bicycle riding and bus rides increase the risk of dental injury. Most often, due to how they’re learning to walk and run, finding their balanced through interactive play and sports can increases these risks significantly.
    • Medical Problems: Certain medical problems, such as cerebral palsy, can help predisposition children to become more prone to dental injuries throughout their childhood. Other various factors such as genetics and childhood habits can play a role in the development of malocclusion.
    • Road Accidents: In some of the smaller percentages presented, road accidents present the most risk besides falls and medical problems to cause traumatic dental injuries.

Correcting Protruding Teeth Matters For Your Family

The social interactions of children and their outside influences can all play a heavy part in the child’s development, including their oral health. It’s essential to eliminate these risks through regular dental visits, proper oral hygiene, and orthodontic care, including treatments such as braces and retainers to correct the malocclusion.

For more information about malocclusion and how they affect children, it’s essential to visit your dentist regarding these concerns. Your dentist can help you and your family receive better dental care and help reduce the risk of traumatic dental injuries later on in life.