When a person’s teeth or jaw structure do not fit together properly, orthodontic treatment may be necessary to straighten teeth and promote ideal function. These problems, often referred to as malocclusions or “bad bites,” can cause speech difficulty, premature wear of the teeth and protective enamel, and even increase the chance of injury to teeth and jaw joints if left untreated.
In an underbite situation, the lower jaw extends out causing the lower front teeth to sit in front of the upper front teeth.
Spacing problems may be caused by missing teeth or they could merely be a cosmetic issue.
This occurs when the appearance and function of your teeth are impacted by upper front teeth protrusion. It is characterized by the upper teeth extended too far forward or lower teeth not positioned far enough forward.
Crowding occurs when teeth have insufficient room to erupt from the gums. Crowding can often be corrected by expansion, and many times tooth removal may be avoided.
In a crossbite scenario, the upper teeth sit inside the lower teeth which may cause tooth stratification and misaligned jaw growth.
In an overbite situation, the upper front teeth extend out over the lower front teeth often times causing the lower front teeth to bite into the roof of the mouth.
Proper chewing is impacted by an open bite, in which the upper and lower front teeth do not overlap. Open bites may be caused by habits such as thumb sucking or tongue thrusting.
Dental midlines that do not match are evident when the back bite does not fit and match appropriately. This may negatively impact jaw and proper dental function.
