Typically, your teeth should not be severely twisted. The alignment of teeth is called occlusion. If there are any changes in this alignment, it is called a malocclusion. When your teeth and jaws don’t develop properly, your teeth can become crooked and misaligned. The top and bottom sets of teeth will not line up correctly as a result.
There are many types of malocclusion, but it’s important to address all of them.
Malocclusion does not affect physical health. You don’t have to worry. It is not a disease. It can only affect how your teeth appear and eventually the shape of your face. Unfortunately for many, this can be a source of lack of self-confidence and embarrassment.
What Causes Malocclusion?
According to the Boston Children’s Hospital, malocclusion occurs in 90% of school-aged children. But thankfully, severe malocclusion occurs in only about 10 to 15% of these children. They are the ones that require proper treatment.
Malocclusion is a result of many different things. It can be caused by environmental factors, oral health problems, or it can be inherited. Often though, it is caused by an injury to the jaw. If not properly treated, the development of malocclusion can occur and worsen as a child grows.
There are, however, children who are at a greater risk of having malocclusion because of bad habits. If your child sucks their fingers or thumbs often, uses a pacifier frequently, and feeds from a bottle for prolonged periods, malocclusion can develop.
No matter what caused malocclusion in your child, however, it is important to treat them early to avoid bite problems, gum disease, tooth decay, and jaw joint problems. Treatment can also prevent teeth grinding, mouth breathing, loss of baby teeth very late or too soon, and problems with speaking or chewing.
For some though, problems emerge only later when they’re already adults. Treatment, as a result, start at a later date. According to the scientific journal, BMC Oral Health, there is an increasing number of adults that receive orthodontic care. In the US, there were 1.61 million adults who received orthodontic treatment in 2018 alone.
Aside from crooked and crowded teeth, adults seek treatments for overbite and underbite. It’s when the upper jaw sticks out over the lower jaw and vice versa. Adults also need treatments for open bite, when the front teeth don’t close, and crossbite, when the upper teeth sit behind the lower teeth when the mouth is closed.
How Can Orthodontic Treatment Help?
Orthodontists specialize in the treatment of malocclusion. The orthodontic treatment they provide focuses on making the teeth straight. Often, treatment is done to improve the appearance of a patient. The aim, though, is to improve the function of one’s teeth and mouth.
In children, different phases of treatment are applied depending on the severity of the malocclusion. Often, the baby teeth are removed to make way for permanent teeth to erupt in the correct alignment. In some cases, misaligned permanent teeth are altogether removed to encourage the growth of new and aligned teeth.
When the bones are involved though, jaw surgery is necessary to correct the problem. But when there is a problem with how the jaw closes, splints or jaw repositioning devices are used. Mouth appliances are also used to treat a malocclusion. They are restrictive, but they are effective in treating the problem.
Mouth appliances are either fixed or removable. Fixed devices include braces, fixed-space maintainers, and special fixed appliances. Removable orthodontic appliances include aligners, headgear, palatal expander, Invisalign clear aligners, lip and cheek bumpers, and retainers.
When wearing mouth appliances, it’s important to practice good oral hygiene from the usual. Aside from regular brushing and flossing your teeth, removable mouth appliances should be detached and cleaned as well. Avoiding certain foods that can easily stick to mouth devices can also help. As much as possible, limit eating ice, popcorn, peanuts, gum, and other sticky foods. You can discuss more details about possible treatments with your dentist or orthodontist.
Get Your Teeth Checked Regularly
If you have an overbite or underbite and it’s affecting how your mouth and teeth function, have it treated by your orthodontist right away.
But the best way to avoid having dental issues is to make regular visits to a dentist. For children, it’s ideal to start early. At the age of seven, you can already bring your child so a dentist can detect any bite issues. As for you and adults in general, regular checkups twice a year are recommended. It ensures early intervention, avoiding problems of an untreated overbite or underbite.