Speech & Language Treatment

If the jaw grows irregularly or if the teeth become misaligned, it is possible for a child to develop speech and language difficulties; these impediments can become embarrassing for some children. Dr. Bailey and his team are trained to identify many speech or language problems that a child may be developing as they grow. To parents who wish to correct these issues, West Valley Pediatric Dentistry can provide trustworthy referrals to provide your child with the specific speech and language treatment in Taylorsville, Utah, that they need, based on their situation. Please contact us today at 801-417-8080 if you are interested in learning more about our speech treatments.

Teeth are used for a variety of things. Most of us think of using our teeth for eating or showing our smile. However, we cannot forget one important purpose for teeth, and that is their role in communication. Our teeth help us produce a number of sounds used in communicating with others, including V, F, Th, S, Ch, and more. If your child has structural or cosmetic problems with their teeth or jaw, they can develop a number of speech problems, such as stuttering, mumbling, cluttering, and lisps. Here are just a few ways that your teeth can affect your speech:

• Misaligned or missing teeth can make it difficult to produce certain sounds, resulting in a lisp or articulation disorders (such as replacing the sound r with w).
• Small mouths or jaw structures can limit the space available for tongue movement, making it more likely that you develop slurred speech.
• Cosmetic problems (crowded, discolored, or missing teeth) may be embarrassing and can cause to you try and hide your teeth while talking. This often results in mumbling and unclear speech and can make the facial muscles more rigid, making it harder to correct the problem later on.

Having your child’s teeth examined at our practice can help determine whether your child’s teeth are causing speech problems. Our pediatric dentist are happy to point out any potential problems and provide necessary treatment. If you have questions or would like further information about dental-caused speech problems, please feel free to visit or call our office today.