TOP NOVA ORTHODONTICS
What is a bad bite?
Why would a person need orthodontic treatment?
Orthodontic problems can affect anyone – in fact, our teeth are almost never naturally perfect. Malocclusion, or a “bad bite”, can cause problems with chewing, oral hygiene, speaking, and aesthetics. A bad bite can be genetic or can be caused by bad habits such as thumb sucking, mouth-breathing, poor dental hygiene, accidents, birth defects, or other medical conditions.
Being educated about the orthodontic problem is the first step to correcting it. Orthodontic treatment performed by Dr. Azita Abbasi can improve both the functionality of your bite and the appearance of your smile.
Below are some examples of the most common orthodontic problems.
What does a bad bite look like?
Spacing
Spacing problems may be caused by missing teeth, or they may be a side effect of tongue thrusting.
Overbite
The upper front teeth extend out over the lower front teeth, causing the lower front teeth to bite into the roof of the mouth.
Crossbite
The upper teeth sit inside the lower teeth, which may cause tooth stratification and misaligned jaw growth.
Underbite
In an underbite, the lower jaw extends out, causing the lower front teeth to sit in the front of the upper front teeth.
Crowding
Crowding occurs when teeth have insufficient room to erupt from the gum. Crowding can often be corrected by expansion, and sometimes, tooth removal.
Upper Front Teeth Protrusion
The appearance and function of your teeth are impacted by this type of bite. It is characterized by the upper teeth extending too far forward.
Dental Midlines not Matched
This type of problem is caused when the back bite does not fit and match appropriately, which may negatively impact jaw and proper dental function.
Openbite
Proper chewing is impacted by this type of bite, in which the upper and lower front teeth do not overlap. Openbite may cause a number of unwanted habits, such as tongue thrusting.
