1.The types of malocclusion problems
The three main classes of malocclusions
Malocclusion is diagnosed when your upper molars overlap with your lower molars in a good position, but your other teeth are crowded or spaced too far apart.
This type of malocclusion consists of an overbite, where the upper jaw and the upper teeth overlap the lower jaw and teeth abnormally.
Class 3 malocclusion is there when there is an underbite. Here, the lower teeth overlap with the upper teeth jaw. Eating hard food items becomes very tedious during this situation.
As mentioned above, there are several different types of malocclusion. Below are some of the most common situations we see and treat.
Overcrowding is an incredibly common orthodontic condition, and is probably the biggest reason we see adults seeking orthodontic treatment. Overcrowding is often due to a lack of space, resulting in teeth that are crooked and overlap.
Spacing issues can occur between two or more teeth. Some of the causes for this malocclusion can include missing teeth, small teeth, tongue thrusting, and thumb sucking. When there is too much space or too little space for the teeth, it can result in crowding which can impact the eruption of the permanent teeth.
A deep overbite occurs when the upper teeth extend past the bottom teeth by more than 2-3mm. The upper teeth extend downward towards the gums and you can’t see much of the lower front teeth. People with this problem tend to show more wear on the teeth, usually from night-time grinding.
An overbite that is so severe that, when biting down, the upper front teeth completely overlap the lower front teeth, which sometimes drive into the gums behind the upper teeth, risking gum injury and other problems.
More commonly known as “gap teeth”, this is another term for the space that exists between two adjacent teeth. It’s seen most often with the front two teeth.
An overjet is where your top teeth extend past your bottom teeth horizontally. Protruding teeth can risk damage and cause problems with eating and speech.
Crossbites occur when the upper teeth are misaligned in such a way that they bite or sit on the insides of the lower teeth. Crossbites can happen to the front and back teeth and they can occur on both sides of the mouth or just one side.
Missing teeth can happen for a number of reasons. Sometimes a tooth just fails to form, other times it became damaged in an accident or was removed due to extensive tooth decay.