Malocclusion refers to the misalignment of teeth that can lead to oral health problems like underbite, overbite, crossbite, and overcrowding. The misaligned teeth can make it challenging to perform vital oral functions like speaking, biting, and chewing.
Each time you operate your mouth; several aspects of your oral health are at work. The jawbone joints and nerves move the teeth and help them distribute the pressure from your bite’s movement. Over time, TMJ disorders can affect the jawbone movement and lead to other dental problems.
What Is Malocclusion?
Malocclusion is a poor bite wherein the upper teeth sit slightly forward on the lower teeth. Most often, malocclusion is a cosmetic concern, as misaligned teeth can have a severe impact on your self-image. Besides, crooked teeth can lead to poor oral hygiene, which ultimately causes tooth decay or tooth loss. Orthodontic treatments can correct your teeth and jawbone alignment and make you feel better about your appearance.
What Causes Malocclusion?
Malocclusion is usually an inherited condition. There are some conditions or harmful habits that may change the shape and structure of your jaw. These include:
- Cleft lip and palate
- Childhood habits like thumb sucking or pacifier use
- Prolonged use of bottle feeding during childhood
- Injuries that lead to the misalignment of your jaw
- Tumors in your mouth or jawbone
- Abnormally shaped or impacted teeth
- Inefficient dental procedures results in improperly fitting dental crowns, fillings, or braces
- Airway obstruction is possibly caused by allergies or by enlarged tonsils
What Are the Symptoms of a Malocclusion?
The general symptoms of malocclusion include an improper alignment of your teeth, changes in facial appearance, pain when eating your foods, lisping during the speech, and breathing through your mouth rather than your nose. In addition, malocclusion can also lead to TMJ disorders, a condition characterized by teeth grinding or clenching, arthritis of the joints, and stress of the jaw joint.
How Is Malocclusion Treated?
In young children and teens, crowded teeth are the most common problem. It can be addressed by removing some primary teeth and making room for the proper eruption of adult teeth.
Braces are another orthodontic treatment that will gradually move the teeth to correct the bite. They can also help move your jawbone into the proper position. Braces can also successfully straighten adult teeth, but their jawbone misalignment can be rectified only with surgery.
Our teeth may naturally shift out of position, even after braces treatments. It will help if you wear a retainer device in your mouth to prevent the movement of teeth.
For more information about malocclusion and how our dental care team can help you have the healthiest and most beautiful smile possible, visit our office, Wellness Centered Dentistry, at 16150 NE 85th St #115, Redmond, WA 98052. You can also reach us at (425) 882-1354.