For a good appearance and healthy functioning, a person’s jaws and teeth should be aligned properly and fit well together. If there are issues, also known as malocclusions, with either the teeth or the jaws, these issues may be an indication that orthodontic treatment is required to fix the problem. Otherwise, if bite or alignment problems are ignored, they can lead to further difficulties such as speech trouble and early wear of the enamel on the teeth. They can also increase the likelihood of occurrence of tooth and jaw injury. Below are some of the most common problems when it comes to malocclusions.
1. An Overbite
When the upper teeth protrude over the lower teeth farther than the normal range, this is considered to be an overbite. An overbite can cause the bottom teeth to hit the roof of the mouth which can be painful. The side effects of an overbite can be a smile that shows a lot of gum area, lips that stick out, and extra wear and tear on the incisors.
2. An Open Bite
In an open bite, the front teeth of both the upper and lower jaws don’t overlap, and this can prevent a correct chewing motion. Bad habits that can result from having an open bite include thumb sucking and pushing the tongue out of the open area repeatedly. It’s very important to diagnose an open bite as early as possible in order to treat and correct this malocclusion.
3. An Underbite
If the lower jaw reaches out farther than the upper jaw, this is known as an underbite. An underbite will make the bottom front teeth rest outside of the top front teeth which isn’t a proper alignment.
4. The Midlines Don’t Match
The midlines of the top and bottom teeth should be lined up. When they’re not properly matched, this causes an improper bite. The back bite should fit into the front comfortably, and when these are misaligned, it can create problems with poor functioning of the jaw and dental processes.
5. A Crossbite
If the teeth of the upper jaw rest inside the teeth of the lower jaw, this malocclusion is known as a crossbite. Patients with a crossbite can experience stratified teeth as well as jaw growth that’s improperly aligned. To be able to close their mouth, these patients may consciously move the bottom jaw farther forward or to one side. This can affect the way that the jaw is used and may result in a lack of correct symmetry in the face.
6. Protrusion of the Top Front Teeth
In this kind of malocclusion, the top teeth reach out too far or the bottom teeth don’t reach far enough toward the front of the mouth. As a result, the look of the teeth and the way they work can be affected.
7. Extra Space
More frequently a result of too much jaw area in relation to the size of teeth, extra space also results from teeth that have been extracted or have fallen out. This malocclusion may or may not cause dental problems. Patients with too much space may seek orthodontic treatment to correct the issue.
8. Not Enough Space
On the other side of the spectrum of extra space is not having enough room for the teeth to come in. Having crowded teeth can make the person self-conscious due to appearance. It may also promote cavities because of the difficulty in cleaning dental surfaces.
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It’s never a bad time to help boost your smile. Your uneven or crooked teeth can be solved by the skilled hands of Houston Orthodontist Dr. Mike Mizell. Adult patients can choose the Invisalign clear aligners to straighten teeth.