Get to Know Your Misaligned Teeth/Malocclusion

When teeth in the lower jaw and upper jaw come together for any functional purpose, such as eating or speaking, they are said to be in Occlusion. When there is a misalignment of teeth to the other teeth in the same or the opposing arch, it is known as Malocclusion, meaning the teeth are incorrectly placed.

The misaligned teeth are unable to perform necessary functions due to the misalignment.

Misalignment of the teeth is a problem that can lead to various oral health and even digestive health complications.

Types of Malocclusions

Crowded teeth/Overcrowding

It is a prevalent condition and is often caused by a lack of space in the jaw structure, resulting in crooked and overlapped teeth. It is the most common cause of orthodontic intervention among adults.

Overjet

In this condition, the top teeth extend past the bottom teeth horizontally. Protruding teeth can cause problems with eating and speech. As well as risk damage.

Overbite

Some overlap of lower front teeth is standard.  In some instances, an increased overlapping can cause the front teeth to bite down on the gums.

Crossbite

In this, the upper teeth bite inside the lower teeth. It may happen on one or both sides of the jaw. It can even impact the front or back teeth.

Underbite (Anterior crossbite)

When a crossbite impacts the front teeth the condition is known as an anterior crossbite, or the more commonly used term underbite.

Spacing/Diastema

Spacing may happen between two or more teeth. Usually the front two teeth. The causes could be small teeth, missing teeth, thumb sucking and tongue thrusting.

Impacted tooth

It refers to a tooth that has failed to emerge from the gum as a tooth would typically. Treatment options are an orthodontic​ treatment for exposing the tooth and fitting a brace or having the tooth extracted.

Missing tooth

It can happen during to tooth loss due to trauma or when the teeth fail to develop normally.

Open bite

It is when front teeth in the upper jaw do not overlap teeth in the lower jaw. It is Also known as an anterior open bite.

Classification of Malocclusions based on Angle’s Method:

1. Class I: Neutro Occlusion the occlusion is typical for the maxillary first molar, but other teeth have problems like crowding, spacing, overlying or underlying, etc.
2. Class II: Distoclusion (overbite, overjet) In this situation, the cusp of the first molar (upper) is not aligned with the groove of the first molar (lower). Instead, it is in front of it. Usually, the cusp is placed in between the first and second premolars. This condition has two subtypes:

• Class II Division 1: The molar alignments are like that of Class II, and the front teeth protrude.

• Class II Division 2: The molar alignments are Class II but the central teeth tilt toward the roof of the mouth (retroclined), and the opposing teeth overlap the central teeth.

1. Class III: Mesiocclusion (Negative overjet, Anterior crossbow, prognathism, underbite) In this case the molars (upper) are placed not in the groove but behind it. The cusp of the first molar (upper) lies behind the groove of the first molar (lower). Usually, such that the lower front teeth are more pronounced than the upper front teeth. In such cases, the patient either a short upper jaw bone or has a significant lower jaw.

Causes

Malocclusion or misaligned teeth (causes of malocclusion) is mostly an inherited condition. It means the odds of a child having misaligned teeth are higher when the condition is prevalent in one or both parent families.

Specific conditions or habits that may alter the structure and shape of the jaw. Such as:

1. Cleft palate and lip.
2. Continuous use of a pacifier past the age of three.
3. Extended use of bottle feeding in early childhood.
4. Repeated sucking in early infancy.
5. Trauma that causes misalignment of the jaw structure.
6. Tumors or lesions in the jaw or mouth.
7. Poorly shaped or ill-developed teeth.
8. The inadequate oral care that may lead to incorrectly fitting dental fillings, braces or crown.
9. Obstructive Sleep Apnea (obstruction of the airway in sleep leading to mouth breathing). Maybe caused by enlarged tonsils, nasal blockage due to cold or allergies.

Treatment

Candidates with a mild case of malocclusion do not require orthodontic treatment. However, if the malocclusion is severe, orthodontic intervention may be needed. Based on the type of malocclusion, the orthodontist can recommend a treatment plan, like:

1. Braces (conventional or invisible) to reposition the teeth to a correct alignment.
2. Extraction of the troubling tooth to correct crowding.
3. Bonding, reshaping, or capping of teeth.
4. Oral surgery to shorten, realign or reshape the jaw.
5. Dental wires or plates to provide stability to the jaw bone.

Related Article: Dental Implants Everything You Need To Know

Risks of treatment

Certain Treatments for the disorder possess the danger to cause further complications, such as:

1. Gum or tooth decay.
2. discomfort and pain.
3. use of appliances, such as braces may irritate the oral cavity.
4. difficulty in daily tasks such as chewing or speaking while the treatment continues (maybe months or years).

Prevention

Preventing the disorder is next to impossible since mostly the cases of malocclusion are hereditary. Covington dentist, Dr. Ross Quartano says “ Guardians and parents of young infants should limit the use of pacifier and bottle to reduce the possibility of changes in the healthy development of the jaw. 

Detection and intervention early of Malocclusions may aid cut down on the severity of misalignment and hence shorten the length of the treatment required to correct the problematic occlusion.