Common Bite Problems
A "bad bite" is when a person's teeth or jaws do not fit together properly.
If left untreated, these orthodontic problems (often referred to as malocclusions) can cause speech difficulty, premature wear of the teeth and protective enamel, and even increase the chance of injury to the teeth and jaw joints. Orthodontic treatment may be necessary to correct the problem.
When it comes to your teeth, the only thing worse than having an issue is not knowing what that issue is! Here's a quick rundown of common bite problems to look for in you and your child's smile.
Spacing
If there is an open space between two or more adjacent front teeth, it may indicate that there is an impacted (unerupted) adult tooth. Spacing between back teeth can lead to food impaction between teeth, which can cause cavities and gum inflammation.
Crowding
Crowding occurs when there is not enough space in the jaws for all of the adult teeth to erupt into proper position. Crowded or crooked teeth can make it difficult to properly clean all surfaces of each tooth, which can cause cavities and tartar build-ups.
Crossbite
Crossbite occurs when one or more teeth are positioned on the inside surface of the jaw. Crossbites can cause speech difficulties, premature wear of the enamel, and looseness and/or gum recession of the affected teeth due to biting and chewing on the improper surfaces of these teeth. Crossbites can occur with front or back teeth.
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Underbite
An underbite is a crossbite of the front teeth where all of the lower front teeth are positioned in front of the upper front teeth. In addition to being unesthetic, an underbite can lead to speech difficulties, premature wear of the enamel, and looseness and/or gum recession of the affected teeth due to biting and chewing on the improper surfaces of these teeth.
Overbite
This condition occurs when the top front teeth protrude beyond the lower front teeth. An overbite can lead to biting difficulties, increased risk of injury to the upper front teeth, and even gun recession of the upper front teeth.
Open Bite
An open bite occurs when the upper and lower front teeth do not touch during chewing. Open bites can lead to speech difficulties and difficulties biting into food.
Our team can help identify and treat these issues so that you can have the beautiful, healthy smile you deserve. Do you have questions or concerns about your teeth or jaw alignment? It's time to see Dr. Cline!
Patients of All Star Orthodontics also get a “Direct Line to Dr. Cline”. That’s right – I give all of my patients my personal line so they can call day or night with questions or concerns. It is just one more thing we do to make patients feel as comfortable and excited as possible about their journey to a healthy smile.
With a friendly, experienced team on-hand to make treatment as easy as possible for you, we’re the number one choice for traditional braces in the Richmond area.
If you’ve been looking for information on traditional braces treatment you can trust, give us a call today and schedule a consultation! We are conveniently located in Richmond, and have your confidence and comfort at the heart of our practice. Get in touch and let our extra special All Star Orthodontics team get to work on your smile!