Understand the growth and development of children's teeth and jaws from an early age

Understanding the development of children's teeth from an early age is very important to maintain the shape, function and maximum dental health. The disharmony of the relationship between the upper and lower jaws can interfere with chewing function, speech function, and appearance known as malocclusion or tooth decay. Malocclusion is the most common oral disorder suffered by Indonesians after cavities and gum disorders with a prevalence reaching 80% of the population.

Understanding Development of Children's Teeth and Jaw

The awareness of parents to detect jaw growth and development abnormalities in children is sometimes still lacking. Most of the general public do not yet have knowledge or awareness of abnormalities in the growth and development of teeth and jaws. Crowded and messy teeth can occur due to various factors such as heredity, nutrition, and oral health during child development and bad habits can affect the condition of a child's teeth.

Heredity factor

Fathers and mothers can pass on their character to their children. Like eye color, curly hair, teeth and mouth characteristics can also be passed down from father and mother. Fathers with large jaws and teeth, while mothers with small jaws and teeth can have children with small jaws and large teeth. This causes the mismatch of the size of the teeth and jaw so that the teeth become crowded and messy.

Cameuh and tonggos are also characters that can be passed down from father and mother. Disorders like this should get optimal care during the growth and development period, so checking children to the dentist as early as possible regularly every 6 months is very important.

Nutritional Factors and Oral Health

The growth of the teeth and jaws, development of teeth, and facial bones begin to form when the child is in the womb. Disturbances during pregnancy or lack of nutrition during pregnancy will affect the formation of teeth and jaw. The teeth can cause damage to the tooth structure so that the teeth of children are easily damaged and more vulnerable.

After birth, nutrition and oral hygiene of children need to be considered as early as possible. Even though they don't have teeth, the mother can clean the baby's mouth and tongue by using a moist gauze wrapped around the thumb.

This is useful for cleaning the milk sticking to the baby's tongue and gums. After the child starts teething, mothers can teach their children to brush their teeth using a toothbrush and toothpaste according to their age.

It needs to be understood, although baby teeth will fall out and be replaced with new ones, broken baby teeth can make children feel sick and have difficulty eating.

Baby teeth that fall out prematurely due to large cavities or frequent swelling can cause permanent teeth to fall apart. Likewise, when a child's permanent teeth begin to grow while their milk teeth are not loose and loose, it can cause permanent teeth to not grow in their position. Conditions like this should immediately consult a dentist for further treatment.

Bad Habit Factors

Bad habits that are carried out from childhood and not stopped until school age children can affect their teeth. Examples include thumb sucking, mouth breathing, sticking out the tongue (tongue thrusting).

When children are 0-4 months old, children experience the oral phase, a period where they like to put objects in their mouth, including their fingers. This habit is normal for children up to 2 years.

The thumb-sucking habit that continues into school age can result in problems with the child's oral cavity such as an open bite and a deep palate. Apart from disturbing the chewing function, this open bite also has an aesthetic impact.

Jaw development disorders in children can occur in the upper and lower jaw. Overdevelopment of the maxilla and underdevelopment of the lower jaw will result in a Class II skeletal pattern. Namely, with the image of the upper teeth which are very advanced compared to the lower teeth which are often referred to as tonggos.

Conversely, overdevelopment of the lower jaw or underdevelopment of the maxilla will cause a Class III skeletal pattern or what is often referred to as a cameuh showing a forward chin and an inverted bite.

Deformities in the dentition and jaw, such as cameuh and tonggos, which are severe and late in being treated until adulthood, are more difficult to treat and may require surgery.

Good dental growth and development affects the physical health and self-confidence of the child

This growth and development disorder will manifest in the disharmony of the face shape and impaired occlusion function. The disharmony of the face will reduce the child's self-confidence, while the occlusion will reduce the intake of food and nutrition. Both of these conditions will overall reduce the quality of life of children later as adults.

In the growth and development of children, there are times when children experience rapid growth in a short period of time. This growth is characterized by increased height, changes in body shape, changes in voice and signs of puberty.

This period of faster growth and development is called the Peak Growth Period (Growth Spurt). Peak growth usually occurs at the age of 10-12 years in women and 12-14 years in men. Growth peaks occur not only in height and body shape, but also in the oral and facial bones. Early detection of abnormalities in the growth of teeth and jaws in children of developmental age is very important. This is because only at certain ages interventions to modify children's development can be carried out.

In an effort to educate the public, the Department of Orthodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Indonesia (FKG UI) in collaboration with the Central Executive of the Indonesian Orthodontist Association (IKORTI) held counseling for posyandu cadres assisted by the Beji District Health Center, Depok and students of SMP Negeri 5 Depok.

This activity is also part of the “Universitas Indonesia Action for the Nation” program which was held face-to-face in the previous year, but this year, as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, it was held online through the media. Zoom Video Conferencing and interactive videos. Through this counseling, it is hoped that the public will increasingly understand the importance of early detection of abnormalities in the growth and development of teeth and jaws.

Increasing public knowledge about the growth and development of teeth and jaws greatly affects the quality of life of children in the future.

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