Dexter, MI
(734) 426-5220
A beautiful smile is a powerful part of looking and feeling your best. Orthodontic treatment not only helps people achieve attractive smiles, but it also improves bad bites or “malocclusions.” A malocclusion occurs when the teeth and/or jaws are not properly aligned, and it can affect your smile, how you clean your teeth, and how you chew. If you have a malocclusion, or just want a straighter smile, contact our office to schedule an initial consult and discover how orthodontic care can benefit you.
Upper Front Teeth Stick Out
This type of bite can result from the upper teeth being too far forward or the lower teeth being too far back. Both function and esthetics are affected with this kind of malocclusion.
Upper Teeth Cover Lower Teeth
With this bite, the upper front teeth overlap too much of the lower front teeth. Many times this malocclusion causes the lower front teeth bite into the roof of the mouth, which can both be painful and cause gum recession and bone loss.
Upper Teeth Fit Inside Lower Teeth
This is when the upper teeth fit inside the lower teeth. Untreated crossbites often result in unfavorable jaw growth and excessive tooth wear.
Upper Teeth Don’t Touch Lower Teeth
The upper and lower front teeth do not overlap. We often see thumb or finger sucking habits and tongue thrusting with this bite. Proper chewing is definitely affected.
Not Enough Space Between Teeth
This occurs when teeth do not have enough room to erupt. Appropriate expansion can correct crowding, many times without tooth removal.
Big Gaps Between Teeth
Most of the time spacing is an esthetic concern, but sometimes spacing can mean that teeth are missing. Significant spacing because of missing teeth can result in teeth tipping and long-term stability problems.
Asymmetrical Upper and Lower Front Teeth
When the middle of the upper and lower front teeth are not aligned, this is not only an esthetic concern but an indication that all the teeth are shifted and not fitting together properly.
According to studies by the American Association of Orthodontists, untreated malocclusions can lead to many problems. Crowded teeth are difficult to properly brush and floss, which contributes to tooth decay and gum disease. Protruding teeth are susceptible to accidental chipping from trauma. Crossbites can result in unfavorable growth patterns and uneven tooth wear. Open bites can result in tongue-thrusting habits and speech problems. Getting the care you need to treat a malocclusion improves your overall health and well-being and will provide you with a lifetime of beautiful smiles.
