Gap-Toothed Smiles in Kids are a Good Sign
We love gap-toothed smiles!
I sometimes see kids come in and their parents are so proud of their beautiful smiles, with the teeth all lined up and touching. That may look nice now but when the permanent teeth come in they will be crowded, which can cause crooked smiles.
Adult permanent teeth are 1.5-2x larger than baby teeth. So as you can imagine, the more gaps in a little smile, the easier it will be to fit in all those larger teeth in all the right places.
Your kids need to see a pediatric dentist!
The gaps are something that you can see for yourself any time you look at your child.
However, there are some other features to a young smile that can create problems later on. These are more difficult for untrained individuals to spot. This is yet another reason why it is important to bring your young kids into their pediatric dentist. They can recognize potential problems early on and you can start planning for it.
So enjoy those delightful gap-toothed grins!
~Dr. Rhea Haugseth
Rhea M. Haugseth, DMD maintained a private practice in Marietta, GA from 1982- 2017. She attended the University of Louisville Dental School and completed her pediatric dental residency at Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital / Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio. She is a Diplomate of the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry and a Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. She is proud to be a Fellow the American College of Dentists, the International College of Dentists, and the Pierre Fauchard Academy – National Honorary Organizations for Dentists.
Dr. Haugseth is a Past President of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD), the Southeastern Society of Pediatric Dentistry (SSPD), and the Georgia Academy of Pediatric Dentistry(GaPD). Dr. Haugseth has been a National Spokesperson for the AAPD since 1989 and has been frequently interviewed for radio, print, and national television.
Dr. Haugseth is the Founder (2013) and Director of the Atlanta Pediatric Dental Assistant School in Atlanta Georgia. She is also the Founder (2014) and Director of the Pediatric Dental Team Association. She is committed to pediatric dental team members and continues to develop ways to enhance their knowledge and skills both in and out of the dental office.