Bite Issues That Are Fixed With Orthodontic Treatment
From the moment that your jaw bone and baby teeth start to develop when you’re a baby to the moment that all of your permanent teeth have erupted and you’ve stopped growing, your smile has always been unique. Even though smiles are unique, most people experience the same kinds of common bite issues, such as crowded teeth or an overbite, which can lead to problems with maintaining good oral health such as increased risk of tooth decay.
At Carvalho & Roth Orthodontics, we provide professional orthodontic treatment to patients of all ages, efficiently treating these common bite problems and creating a new, healthy, and perfect smile. Out of our three local offices in Marlborough, Northborough, and Newton Centre, we have helped countless patients achieve the radiant smile that they were always meant to have, and we look forward to offering you the same quality care that we have provided the families of our community for years.
How Are Most Common Bite Problems Treated?
Most bite problems can be fixed by straightening the teeth with orthodontic treatment such as metal braces, clear ceramic braces, Invisalign, and Invisalign Teen. However, when children come in for regular orthodontic checkups, we are often able to track the development of their jaw and teeth catching the early signs of potential bite problems. If any of signs bite issues are discovered, preventative early orthodontic treatment may be performed, such as using a palatal expander to create more space in the jaw for teeth to develop more naturally. Patients that receive early orthodontic care often have shorter treatment times in braces or Invisalign.
The Most Common Bite Issues Underbite
Underbites occur when your lower jaw sticks out underneath your upper jaw, resulting in a bite where the lower teeth overlap the upper teeth when biting down. In some severe cases of an underbite, surgery is required to adjust the positioning of the jaw, but otherwise, orthodontic treatment is typically enough to correct the issue.
Gaps In Between Teeth
It is possible for the teeth to be too small for the available space in the jaw, which commonly results in spaces or gaps between the teeth. Gaps can also be a result of other orthodontic issues such as missing teeth, impacted teeth, and protruding teeth. With braces, the teeth can be moved to close the spaces in these gaps, which creates a smile that is perfectly aligned. These gaps can be corrected with braces and in some cases Invisalign aligners if the gaps are minor.
Protruding Upper Teeth
Not to be confused with an overbite, this bite issue is characterized by the upper teeth protruding at an angle which extends out past the lower jaw. This is commonly a result of bad habits in children such as finger and thumb sucking, due to the pressure being applied to the teeth as the child sucks on their finger, forcing them to jut outwards. Using braces or Invisalign, we can move the teeth back into position, so they line up vertically with the lower teeth.
Crowding
Crowded teeth is when there is not enough room in the jaw for the teeth to erupt naturally, causing them to push against each other during development and erupt at various angles. Crowding can also be the result of teeth that are too big, similar to how gaps in teeth are caused by teeth are too small. Depending on the severity of the crowding, tooth extraction may be necessary to create enough space for the teeth to move with braces.
Crossbite
A crossbite is a misalignment of the dental arches, where the upper arch is typically more narrow or the lower arch is wider. The result is a bite where the front upper teeth come down over the bottom front teeth, but the upper teeth on the sides come down behind the lower ones. Crossbites can lead to various issues with chewing or speaking, and a palatal expander may sometimes be necessary to adjust the shape of the jaw in addition to standard treatment with braces.
Overbite
Overbite is when the upper arch extends past the lower arch, resulting in the upper teeth falling in front of the lower teeth when biting down. Most overbite issues can be treated with braces and Invisalign, while some cases of overbite are so minor that they may not require treatment at all.
Open Bite
An open bite is when the upper and lower incisor cannot touch even when biting down. Other than the crooked appearance, the main problem with an open bite is that it puts extra pressure on the back teeth when chewing, which can lead to pain and discomfort in the future, along with uneven wear on the teeth. It is recommended that open bites be treated with orthodontic treatment as soon as possible.
Midlines
A midline bite issue is when the center line of your upper teeth, the space between your two front incisors, do not line up with the centerline of your bottom teeth. A midline misalignment is often the result of a drifting or missing tooth. While a midline issue does not always appear as a significant bite problem, the misalignment of the jaw could lead to more serious dental problems in the future if not treated with orthodontics.
Get Your Perfect Smile Today!
If you suffer from a bad bite and wish you had a straighter, perfect smile contact us at Carvalho & Roth Orthodontics and schedule an appointment for an initial consultation. We’ll conduct a thorough examination to determine the extent of your bite issue and work with you to create a personalized treatment plan, outlining the ideal path for you to achieve the smile of your dreams. We have offices in Marlborough, Northborough, and Newton Centre, so the quality care that you need is never far from home. We look forward to meeting you and helping you transform your smile!