November 4th, 2013
Did you know that your bite and overall health go hand-in-hand? When your teeth and jaws are not properly aligned it can cause a patient issues such as speech development, breathing, and in extreme cases, facial issues. A “bad bite” is what we refer to as a malocclusion. Most people have some form of malocclusion, and often times not serious, but orthodontic treatment is needed to correct this issue. There are 3 forms of malocclusions.
Crossbites: This is when a tooth or group of teeth on the upper jaw sits inside of the lower teeth. Being left untreated it can cause unnecessary wearing down of the teeth, gum disease and bone loss.
Overbites: This occurs when the upper teeth overlap the lower teeth considerably. Overbites can result in gum issues and can wear down the lower teeth. This is a common hereditary problem among families, and can lead to bad oral habits, and over bone development.
Underbites: Is what is commonly known as the “bulldog bite”. This is when the lower teeth surpass the upper teeth. Underbites can be caused by missing upper teeth, and prevents the normal function of the front teeth.
If you suspect you or child has a misaligned bite, we encourage you to contact our office at your earliest convenience.
Leave a Reply
