A beautiful smile is something that everyone wants. However, various dental conditions can complicate having the perfect smile. Malocclusion is one such condition that can affect your teeth' function and appearance. A healthy mouth starts from the inside out – with your teeth. Since malocclusion directly affects your teeth, it can also affect your oral health.
What is Malocclusion?
- Openbite: An open bite is a malocclusion where the top teeth and bottom teeth do not come together or bite in the correct position and also called an underbite. Openbite is considered one of the more severe forms of malocclusion because it can lead to significant decay, eating and chewing difficulties, mouth breathing, speech issues, and sleep apnea. In addition, an open bite can also lead to gum disease and TMJ problems.
- Overbite: An overbite is a too-large overlap between the top teeth and the bottom teeth. A proper bite requires a small overbite – generally 1 to 2 mm. An overbite is also a serious form of malocclusion because it can lead to wear and tear and decay on the upper front teeth due to their extended length. In addition, an overbite can cause TMJ problems.
- Crossbite: occurs when both the upper and lower jaws shift too far in one direction or another. This causes the teeth to meet at an abnormal angle, and it can cause significant damage because of this. In addition, crossbites often lead to TMJ problems.
In addition to types of malocclusion, your dentist will
also diagnose malocclusion as being class I, II, or III. These different
classes of malocclusion are as follows:
- Class I: A class I malocclusion means that the molar position, or bite, is normal, but there are other teeth that are misaligned in some way.
- Class II: Classified by a severe overbite that causes the upper teeth to drastically overlap the lower teeth, possibly due to a small lower jaw.
- Class III: Classified by a severe underbite that causes the lower teeth to overlap the upper teeth, possibly due to a large lower jaw.
How does malocclusion affect oral health?
As we stated before, malocclusion can take on different
forms, and each form can cause its own set of problems. In general, however,
malocclusion can lead to:
- Sensitivity on the teeth caused by enamel wears due to their abnormal alignment
- Decay on the teeth due to damaged and/or worn enamel, as well as bacterial accumulations on overlapping teeth
- Gum disease, as bacteria can easily accumulate in the crevices between teeth that are not properly aligned
- TMJ problems due to increased jaw stress, which can cause pain in the jaw, headaches, and other issues
Treating Malocclusion
Orthodontic treatment, like aligners, is used to correct
malocclusion concerns. You’ll have to see the best orthodontist in Gujarat or the best aligner expert specializing in
alignment techniques to move your teeth safely and effectively. Orthodontic
treatment often includes:
- Braces or other aligners
- Removing teeth in the case of crowding
- Surgery to correct severe jaw alignment concerns
- Use of retainers following treatment to maintain your new tooth alignment
