Common Problems
Orthodontic problems can affect anyone – in fact, our teeth are almost never naturally perfect. Malocclusion, or a “bad bite”, can cause problems with chewing, oral hygiene, speaking, and aesthetics. A bad bite can be genetic, or it may be caused by thumb sucking, dental disease, poor dental hygiene, accidents, birth defects, or other medical conditions.
Being educated about the orthodontic problem you or your child may have is the first step to correcting it. Orthodontic treatment performed by Dr. Rich Resler and Dr. Adnan Hamka can improve both the functionality of your bite and the appearance of your smile.
Below are some examples of the most common orthodontic problems.
Upper Front Teeth Protrusion
The appearance and function of your teeth are impacted by this type of bite. It is characterized by the upper teeth extending too far forward or the lower teeth not extending far enough forward.
Overbite
The upper front teeth extend too far down over the lower front teeth, sometimes causing the lower front teeth to bite into the roof of the mouth behind the upper front teeth.
Crossbite
One or more of the upper teeth sit inside the lower teeth, which may cause tooth stratification and misaligned jaw growth.
Openbite
Proper chewing is impacted by this type of bite, in which the upper and lower front teeth do not overlap. Openbite may cause a number of unwanted habits, such as tongue thrusting.
Crowding
Crowding occurs when teeth have insufficient room to erupt into the dental arch. Crowding can often be corrected by expansion and alignment, and many times, tooth removal can be avoided.
Spacing
Spacing problems may be caused by missing teeth, or they may be more of a cosmetic or aesthetic issue.
Dental Midlines Not Matched
This type of problem is when the midline (the line between the two front teeth on the top and bottom) does not match in line with each other and is usually a result of when the back bite does not fit and match appropriately, which may negatively impact jaw and dental function.
Underbite
In an underbite, the lower jaw extends out, causing the lower front teeth to sit in the front of the upper front teeth.
