Malocclusion Class I

The jaw relationship is relatively normal but the teeth may be very overcrowded and misaligned.

Malocclusion Class II

Commonly called an overbite, the lower jaw has not grown as far forward as the upper jaw. This has been described as having "buck teeth". It may also look like the chin is too far back.

Malocclusion Class III

This condition is characterized by an underbite. This may be caused by the upper jaw not growing forward enough or by the lower jaw growing forward too much.

There are many causes of malocclusion. Genetics are one of the leading factors. A child may be born with a disproportionate jaw. There are also environmental factors, such as thumb sucking beyond the age of 4. Contact our MySmileRocks orthodontists if you have concerns about the common problems below.

Crooked Teeth / Crowding

This is a very common orthodontic problem that gives the appearance of having too many teeth and not enough room for them. Crowding normally worsens over time as one tooth pushes over the other leading to overlapping teeth. Crowded teeth are harder to clean then straight teeth, which will lead to cavities and tooth decay. Crowding can often be correct by expansion to avoid tooth removal.

Anterior Crossbite

An Aneterior Crossbite is yypically a misshaped or “bad bite” where some of the upper front teeth are inside of the lower teeth when you bite down.

Posterior Crossbite

Another type of bad bite where some of the upper back teeth on one or both sides are inside of the lower teeth when you bite down.

Overbite/Deep Bite

The upper teeth cover most or all of the lower teeth when you bite down. The severity of the Overbite is judged by how far your upper teeth cover up your lower teeth when you bite down. If when you bite down your top front teeth completely cover your bottom front teeth and you can only see the gums, this is a severe overbite. An excessive overbite leads to wearing down of the teeth and may even cause the bottom teeth to bite into the roof of the mouth.

Overjet

Some people mistakenly refer to this as an overbite. Overjet is the horizontal (front-to-back) relationship of the upper teeth to the lower front teeth or how far out your upper front teeth stick straight out leaving a space between your upper front teeth and lower front teeth when you are biting together. In a normal bite there is very little or no space between the lower front teeth and the upper front teeth.

Spacing (Diastema)

A space or gaps between two teeth. Spacing can occur if teeth are missing, small, or if the dental arch is wide. The most common complaint from patients with excessive spacing is cosmetic.

Open Bite/Protruded Teeth

A bad bite where the front teeth do not come together when you bite down. This can be caused by thumb sucking, tongue thrusting or mouth breathing. Because of the abnormal contact between the upper and lower front teeth it could cause injury to the lower teeth. It also causes poor bites and may even be from uneven jaw growth.

Impacted Teeth/Crossbite

When the roots of the teeth fully develop and the teeth fail to erupt, these teeth are considered to be impacted. The most commonly impacted teeth are the 3rd molars (wisdom teeth) and the upper cuspids. An impacted tooth such as an upper cuspid needs to be moved into its correct position. After braces have been in place for some months, an oral surgeon will "expose" the tooth and attach a bracket to it. The orthodontist will then move the tooth to its proper position in the mouth.

Missing Teeth

Usually a genetic condition, you are considered to have missing teeth if you have fewer than 20 primary (baby) teeth or fewer than 32 permanent teeth. The most common missing teeth are the upper lateral incisors, the lower second bicuspids and the wisdom teeth (3rd molars).

Midlines Off

In a perfectly aligned face there should be a straight line from the bridge of the nose to the bottom teeth...all should be lined up. If they are not and the bottom teeth are actually misaligned from the top teeth, then your midlines are off. If your midlines are off, your teeth may be off center also or could be drifted or your lower jaw could be shifted, which would result in an improper bite.