Are you concerned your child may need braces? If so, you want to address problems at an early age to avoid damage to teeth and gums. Children should have an orthodontic evaluation by age 7. Or perhaps you have concerns about your teeth. The team at Dental Solutions of Mississippi wants to educate you about common orthodontic problems.
The most common orthodontic issue is malocclusion (bad bite). We’ll explain the most common types of bite problems below. Malocclusion often results from a genetic problem, but it can also occur because of childhood habits like mouth-breathing, tongue-thrusting, thumb-sucking, and using pacifiers or bottles for too long. Other causes are problems such as trauma, impacted teeth, and extra teeth.
Common Malocclusion Problems
Crowding — Crowding happens when there is not enough space for teeth to fit properly in the jaw.
Excessive Spacing — Excessive spacing results from genetics or missing teeth causing too much space between neighboring teeth.
Abnormal Eruption — This refers to a permanent tooth coming out in the wrong place. It usually happens with upper first molars or cuspids.
Crossbite — A misalignment of the upper and lower jaw that is causing an upper tooth or teeth to rest inside the lower teeth instead of outside.
Overbite — An overbite happens when the top front teeth stick out over the bottom front teeth, which can cause the bottom teeth to bite into the roof of the mouth.
Underbite — The lower jaw comes out too far, and the top teeth rest inside the lower teeth.
Open Bite — Open bite occurs when the top and bottom teeth close but don’t touch, creating an open space between the top and bottom teeth.
Overjet — Overjet (buck teeth) is when the top front teeth stick out toward the lip.
Bite issues can be corrected with orthodontic treatment. We offer treatment solutions for children and adults. To find out more, contact our office to schedule a consultation. Feel free to share this information with family and friends. We serve patients in Canton, Mississippi, and the surrounding areas.