Braces Can Correct Malocclusion
Malocclusion is the incorrect alignment of the upper and lower rows of teeth when biting, and malocclusions can interfere with chewing, speaking, and effective oral hygiene. The primary cause of malocclusions is genetic factors, like a disproportionate difference in size between the upper and lower jaws, or oddly shaped or sized teeth. Many malocclusions are also caused by prolonged use of bottles for feeding, or by thumb sucking or prolonged use of pacifiers. Childhood defects like cleft lip and cleft palate can also cause malocclusions.
Symptoms of malocclusion include the obvious visible symptoms that relate to the teeth and the smile. Other symptoms include ineffective and uncomfortable chewing, frequent biting of the inner cheeks and tongue, problems with speech, a tendency to breathe through the mouth, and a change in the shape of the face. When the jaws and the teeth are aligned properly, the upper teeth will slightly overlap the lower teeth. In a class one malocclusion, the most common type of malocclusion, there are minor misalignments in the teeth but the bite itself is proper. In a class two malocclusion, there is a visible overbite, which is characterized by the upper teeth overlapping the lower teeth by a significant degree. Class three malocclusions are characterized by a lower jaw that is larger than an upper jaw, causing the jaw to appear to jut forward and creating an overlap of the lower teeth over the upper teeth.
Malocclusions are commonly treated with braces. Orthodontists can diagnose the type and class of malocclusion with orthodontic examinations, panoramic x-rays, and bite impressions, and they will base their recommended treatment on this diagnosis. If the teeth are overcrowded, the orthodontist may extract a few teeth, usually the primary teeth, to encourage the secondary teeth to erupt straightly. When a patient has an underbite, overbite, or crossbite, the orthodontist has several tools at their disposal. Traditional fixed braces are attached to each tooth and then attached to each other with wire, and the wire is adjusted regularly to slowly urge the teeth into alignment. Removable retainers and headgear and also be used to treat these conditions. Retainers hold the teeth in place temporarily, so that the jaw can grow properly around it, and headgear helps adjust the size or shape of the upper or lower jaw, or both.
Adolescent and adult patients, especially, might opt for Invisalign or another type of clear alignment tray. These devices are removable and transparent, and they gradually and incrementally guide the teeth into proper alignment. This is an increasingly popular choice, especially as options increase and long-term efficacy is established, but the most efficient way to treat a malocclusion is to treat it as early as possible. When addressed in early childhood, malocclusions are often easily fixed, resulting in a more affordable overall option that provides the added benefit of improving oral hygiene. Adults can also benefit from orthodontic treatment for malocclusions, though the treatment is likely to last longer and be more expensive. For most patients, the satisfaction of a confident smile is enough.