Causes of Malocclusion
The word “malocclusion” translates directly as “bad bite,” and it is a condition characterized by a misalignment between the upper and lower teeth. Many people have some mild type of malocclusion, and in many cases, these minor malocclusions can remain uncorrected without adversely affecting the person. Often, however, malocclusions can create aesthetic issues, which can have a serious impact on a person’s self-esteem. In addition, malocclusions can create problems with effective oral hygiene, especially cleaning between overcrowded or crooked teeth, which can lead to gum disease and tooth decay and gradually cause the teeth to loosen and fall out. In severe cases, malocclusion could even interfere with eating and speaking. Orthodontists are dental specialists who are extensively trained in the treatment of malocclusions, and they use a number of different tools and methods to mechanically return the teeth to correct alignment.
The primary cause of malocclusion is an imbalance between the size of the jaw and the teeth, or a problem with the shape of the jaw in relation to the teeth. When a child has a disproportionately small jaw, the secondary teeth may not have enough room to erupt in alignment and may be crooked or crowded. When the jaw is large, the teeth can migrate out of place. Malocclusion can also be caused by the extended use of pacifiers or prolonged thumb sucking, or by loss of primary teeth, and many dentists believe that mouth breathing also contributes to malocclusion, though the specific correlation has not yet been determined.
Malocclusion is characterized by teeth that are visibly crooked or protruding, though there are several different types of malocclusion. Malocclusion is diagnosed at a dental checkup, and, if the jaw or teeth appear to be misaligned, the dentist will refer the patient to an orthodontist. The orthodontist will examine the patient’s mouth, review their medical history, and take x-rays of the patient’s teeth and photos of their teeth and face. They will also make a plaster model of the teeth before treatment. When children and adolescents have malocclusions, they are most commonly caused by crowding in the jaw. Removing some existing baby teeth can help make room for secondary teeth to erupt, and if the secondary teeth are impacted, the orthodontist can put braces on these teeth and the adjacent teeth to gently ease them into place. Sometimes, an orthodontist will use a treatment called growth modification, which requires a child to wear an orthodontic device that repositions the jaw; these devices are particularly effective when used in younger children and during growth spurts, when bone growth is at its peak. If an adult has an uncorrected jaw condition that causes a misshapen or misaligned jaw, the condition will be much more difficult to treat than it would have been if it were addressed when the patient was a child and will require surgery. Once the jaw has been properly positioned, the orthodontist will put braces on the teeth, securing the jaw in place and gradually moving the teeth into a correct bite alignment, usually over the course of two or three years. Because the teeth can naturally drift out of place, patients may be required to wear a retainer after the braces are removed; a retainer is a removable device that holds the teeth in place and is held into the mouth by an acrylic base, or, in some cases, bonded to the backs of the teeth, and many dentists recommend that certain patients wear their retainers for years following their treatment with braces.