Orthodontic info
Will my child’s crooked teeth straighten out on their own as they grow?
No, the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) says a child’s teeth “will not straighten out as he or she grows” because the space for the permanent front teeth does not increase with growth.
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Growth changes a child’s face and jaws without adding room where the permanent front teeth need it, the AAO says, but growth still shapes the plan: treatment “can be timed to take advantage of predictable stages of growth.”
Why does growth not make room for crooked teeth?
Growth does not make room because, in the AAO’s words, “The space available for permanent front teeth will not increase as one grows.” The AAO says baby teeth hold space for the permanent teeth that follow them, and Carvalho & Roth Orthodontics explains in its post on permanent teeth that are not erupting that the permanent front teeth are wider than the baby teeth they replace. When the room runs short, the teeth crowd: they overlap, turn or sit forward or back of the row.
Carvalho & Roth Orthodontics can evaluate a child’s tooth eruption, jaw growth, spacing and bite development.
Do deep bites correct themselves as a child grows?
The AAO says “Deep bites typically do not resolve on their own, and if left untreated, they can worsen and lead to further orthodontic issues.” A deep bite, also called an overbite, means the upper front teeth vertically cover the bottom front teeth, unlike overjet, where front teeth stick out forward. Your orthodontist checks that overlap at the exam; in the healthy bite the AAO describes, the upper front teeth “slightly overlap the lower front teeth.” Carvalho & Roth Orthodontics describes crossbites, open bites and other common bite problems on its own page.
What can happen to crooked teeth that are left alone?
The AAO says “Untreated orthodontic problems can become worse, and more difficult to treat as a child gets older.” Those problems, the AAO adds, may lead to tooth decay, gum disease, broken front teeth and loss of the bone tissue that holds teeth in place. The AAO’s word there is “may,” and the AAO also says an exam could show “that no problems are present at this time.”
At Carvalho & Roth Orthodontics, when the exam finds an issue, the first consultation moves on to the options and a recommended treatment plan.
Is watching a child’s teeth over time a real plan?
Yes, watching is the plan the AAO describes when treatment is not needed yet: in its post of June 2026 the AAO says the child “will be followed periodically while the face and jaws continue to develop,” and growth, which adds no room for the front teeth, can still shape when treatment begins. How often those checks happen is your orthodontist’s call at the exam.
The practice’s page on early orthodontic treatment lists what an initial consultation may lead to, and why a child may be told to wait while friends start braces is answered in why the orthodontist may say wait.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
How does an orthodontist check the room for teeth that have not come in yet?
With an exam and X-rays: the AAO says X-rays are necessary for an accurate diagnosis because they “reveal what could otherwise only be guessed,” and that a panoramic X-ray lets the orthodontist see what is under the gums. At Carvalho & Roth Orthodontics, the initial examination includes digital photos and X-rays.
Does the space for the front teeth change once the 12-year molars come in?
Yes, for most people it shrinks. The AAO says that after “the permanent (12 year) molars come in, there is even less space available for the front teeth” and that this can lead to protruding or crooked teeth. Your orthodontist checks that space at the exam.
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