The Art of Occlusion: Beyond Straight Teeth

Malocclusion is a common dental problem worldwide. Improper teeth alignment can lead to serious consequences if ignored.

West San Diego family dentistry specialists are acclaimed dental professionals who offer advanced treatments for malocclusion. They help enhance your oral and overall physical health.

What is malocclusion?

Malocclusion, popularly known as “bad bites”, is one of the common dental problems that is characterized by an incorrect relationship between the maxilla (upper jaw) and the mandible (lower jaw). If left untreated, it can lead to other complications like overbite, underbite, crossbite, and overcrowding.

There are three types of malocclusion, namely:

Class I

This is a Class I bite with an overlap of the upper teeth over the lower teeth.
Class I malocclusion has further subcategories:
- Type I: Your teeth lean towards the tongue
- Type II: Your lower teeth are angled towards the tongue, and upper teeth project out in narrow arches
- Type III: Your upper teeth are crowded and lean towards the tongue

Class II

This is the same as class I but more severe and can alter your bite.
Subcategories include:
- Division I: Your upper teeth lean toward the lips
- Division II: Your upper central incisors lean toward the tongue

Class III

This is a type of underbite where the lower teeth project out over the upper teeth
Subcategories include:
- Type I: Your teeth form an abnormally shaped arch
- Type II: Your lower front teeth are angled towards the tongue
- Type III: The upper arch is abnormal, and the upper teeth are angled toward the tongue

What causes malocclusion?

The following are the major causes of dental malocclusion:

Hereditary
Tooth loss
Prolonged use of a pacifier
Bottle feeding
Thumb sucking
Cleft lip and palate
Injuries and trauma
Tumors in the mouth
Impacted tooth
poor oral care
Airway obstruction due to enlarged adenoids

What are the effects of malocclusion?

Depending on the type of malocclusion, symptoms include:

Misaligned teeth
Speech problems
Discomfort while biting or chewing food
Frequent tongue or cheek-biting
Altered facial form and structure
Increased susceptibility to tooth decay
Headaches and facial pain due to excess pressure on the TMJ

How do dentists treat malocclusion?

Several orthodontic appliances help correct overbite, underbite, or crossbite.

Fixed multibracket braces

These are brackets that are fixed to the tooth surface using dental cement.
It consists of an archwire that connects each bracket

Removable devices

Retainers, palate expanders, and headgear are common examples.

Invisalign

These are clear and removable dental braces that correct malocclusion in an aesthetic way.

It’s never too late to get treated for malocclusion since, if left untreated, it can have multiple consequences that can affect your dental as well as mental health.