Malocclusion literally means “bad bite” and is the number one reason people see an orthodontist. There are many different forms of “bad bites” which can lead to a variety of complications. There are many causes of malocclusion. Genetics are one of the leading factors. A child may be born with a disproportionate jaw. There are also environmental factors, such as thumb sucking beyond the age of 4.
Crowded teeth, the opposite of spacing is caused where there just isn’t enough space in the mouth for all those teeth. Crowding just gets worse over time as one tooth pushes over the other leading to overlapping teeth. Crowded teeth are harder to clean then straight teeth, which will lead to cavities and tooth decay. Crowding can often be correct by expansion so as to avoid tooth removal.
In an Underbite, the lower jaw is longer than the upper which causes the lower teeth to protrude in front of the upper teeth. It is best to diagnose the problem early.
An overbite, or deep bite is when the front teeth cover the lower teeth too much. An excessive overbite leads to wearing down of the teeth and even may cause the bottom teeth to bite into the roof of the mouth.
The malocclusion known as spacing is too much room between the teeth. Spacing can occur if teeth are missing, small, or if the dental arch is wide. The most common complaint from patients with excessive spacing is cosmetic.
A cross bite is when the back upper teeth fit into the inside of the lower back teeth. A cross bite causes tooth stratification and misaligned jaw growth.
When the upper front teeth stick out too far forward, or the lower teeth don’t extend enough this is called protrusion. Because of the abnormal contact between the upper and lower front teeth it could cause injury to the lower teeth. It also causes poor bites and may even be from uneven jaw growth. This problem can be caused by thumb and finger sucking.
In a perfectly aligned face there should be a straight line from the bridge of the nose to the bottom teeth…all should be lined up. If they are not and the bottom teeth are actually misaligned from the top teeth, then your midlines are off. When your midlines off your teeth could be drifted or your lower jaw could be shifted, which would result in an improper bite.
The common result of thumb sucking or tongue thrusting, an open bite is when you can actually stick your tongue between your teeth while biting down. An open bite is a cosmetic problem, but it can also cause chewing problems.