Do you or someone you know have speech difficulty?
Malocclusions are primary reasons why people have tooth injuries, enamel wear, premature teeth or even speech complications. Commonly known as bite problems, malocclusions occur when the upper and lower jaws don’t fit well. Fortunately, dental advancements have enabled recovery through treatment for bite problems.
Here are all the different kinds of malocclusions that can occur.
If your lower jaw extends beyond the upper jaw, you have a case of an underbite. This problem becomes most evident when the lower teeth overlap the upper row of front teeth while clenching.
Crossbites can lead to misaligned jaw growth with an asymmetric facial structure. If the upper row of teeth fits inside the lower jaw, it is a case of a crossbite. In order to treat this malocclusion, the upper teeth need to be brought out or pushed to the side in order to clench properly. Without treatment, there can be difficulty in closing the mouth.
Protruding Upper Front Teeth
This can result from a few or most of the upper front teeth protruding abnormally. This means that the upper and lower jaws are unable to meet because of the bad positioning of upper front teeth. Treatments for this type of malocclusion involve focusing on a few protruding teeth or fixing the entire jaw.
As the name suggests, this is the opposite of an underbite. In this case the upper jaw overlaps the lower jaw such that the lower line of teeth digs into the roof of the mouth. Leaving this malocclusion untreated can lead to wearing of the incisors. The misalignment can give you an unimpressive smile that reveals your gums and protrudes your lips. It’s important to treat this problem because it can have many dental and aesthetic repercussions.
True to its name, this kind of malocclusion refers to an excess of teeth that can’t be accommodated in the space of the jaw. If you can identify teeth that have not fully grown out of the gums and are stuck in between, it’s probably because of crowding. This is also a popular reason why people opt for braces. Crowding can impede the process of cleaning your teeth and lead to decay. It can also cause periodontal problems if left untreated.
This is a common issue among people who have spaces between their teeth. It is the opposite of crowding because there are too few teeth to occupy the gums completely. It can be a genetic problem or it might happen because of missing teeth. Braces are also commonly worn to treat spacing as it’s a growing aesthetic concern among young adults.
This problem is best treated during its early stages. If the upper and lower lines of front teeth fail to overlap while the molars are clenched firmly, it’s a case of an openbite. This can lead to tongue thrusting and thumb sucking during early years as well and should be treated as soon as possible.
Mismatched Dental Midlines
The jaw function may also disrupt if the midlines of the upper and lower front teeth don’t match. This malocclusion can also lead to many dental problems and should be treated at your earliest.
If you’re looking for a reliable dental facility in MD, Bethesda Dental Health offers excellent dentistry services. We’re trusted family dentists in Bethesda and offer emergency dental treatments for various cases of malocclusions.