Common Problems

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 signs of 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.

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. 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. When a child’s upper front teeth protrude this way, front teeth that stick out covers the timing of a first check-up.

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. In a younger child, crowded or spaced baby teeth covers crowding and gaps in the baby teeth.

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. Children who bite with the side teeth rather than the front have a page of their own: biting with the side teeth.

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.

Schedule an initial consultation

If you suffer from a bad bite, contact us at Carvalho & Roth Orthodontics and request a 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. We have offices in Marlborough, Northborough, Newton Centre and Worcester.