Common Problems

Orthodontic treatments help correct structural problems with the teeth or jaw that cause misalignment. Bad bites, also known as malocclusions, aren’t just a cosmetic issue. They can cause problems with speech, accelerated wearing down of teeth, and increased chance of injury. Orthodontic treatments promote healthy function and straighten teeth to counteract these problems.

Common problems include:

Underbite: When the lower jaw extends out further than the upper jaw, causing the upper teeth to go behind the lower teeth, the result is an underbite.
Spacing: Missing teeth can destabilize the jaw and cause teeth to space out in an effort to fill the gap. Spacing can also be caused by other problems such as small teeth.
Protrusion: Protrusion can be caused by either the overextension of upper teeth or the lower teeth not extending forward far enough.
Crowding: When teeth don’t have enough space when erupting through the gums, crowding will occur. Orthodontic treatments causing expansion can correct this problem, avoiding the need to remove any teeth.
Crossbite: When upper teeth fit inside lower teeth, a crossbite occurs, possibly causing the development of a misaligned jaw.
Overbite: When upper teeth extend over the lower teeth, an overbite occurs. Lower teeth might hit the roof of the mouth if an overbite is severe.
Openbite: An openbite can be caused by tongue thrusting or thumb sucking. When an openbite occurs, there is no overlap of upper and lower teeth. This can have an impact on the ability to chew.
Dental midlines not matching: When the back bite doesn’t fit properly, mismatched dental midlines may occur. When dental midlines do not match, it can interfere with proper jaw function.