LEARN ABOUT DIFFERNT Orthodontic Disorders

Crossbite

Crossbites can occur in the front and/or the sides of the mouth: One or more upper teeth bite on the inside of the lower teeth. This can occur with a single tooth or multiple teeth. Early correction of crossbite is recommended.

Crossbite should be corrected because it can:

cause premature wear of the teeth
cause gum disease including bone loss
cause asymmetrical development of the jaws
cause dysfunctional chewing patterns
make your smile less attractive

Close-up of misaligned teeth showing severe crowding and overlapping on the upper arch
before
Close-up of dental alignment with an anterior open bite and protruding upper front teeth

Close-up of aligned teeth following orthodontic treatment, showing improved symmetry and gum health
after
Close-up of a finalized smile with straightened white teeth and a corrected bite.

How can a crossbite be orthodontically corrected?

If there is a single-tooth crossbite, the tooth can be moved with braces into the correct position. In some cases, a retainer can be utilized. With multiple teeth in crossbite, the arch needs to be expanded with braces or other intra-oral appliances

Openbite

Openbite is an insufficient vertical overlap of the teeth. It is caused by oral habits such as tongue thrust, digit sucking, or when the jaws don’t grow evenly. The timing of treatment is critical to the overall success of the therapy.

How can an open bite be orthodontically corrected?

Openbite can be corrected through growth modification of the jaws using braces, extrusion of the anterior teeth, and in some cases surgical correction of the jaws. Also breaking oral habits, such as digit sucking, will facilitate the correction of an open bite.

Close-up of dental alignment with an anterior open bite and protruding upper front teeth
before

Close-up of dental alignment with an anterior open bite and protruding upper front teeth
after

Overbite

Class II Overbite

Overbite occurs when the upper front teeth protrude over the lower front teeth. Generally, there is no contact between the upper and lower front teeth. Often you cannot see the lower incisors. Overbite is due to a disproportionate amount of eruption of front teeth or overdevelopment of the bone that supports the teeth and a front-to-back discrepancy in the growth of the upper or lower jaw (Class II Relationship). Overbite is also known as a deep bite.

Overbite should be corrected because it can:

cause improper functioning of your front teeth
result in the lower front teeth biting into the gum tissue of the upper palate leading to tissue problems
unusual wear of the lower front teeth
cause jaw or joint problems
make your smile less attractive

How can an overbite be orthodontically corrected?Overbite can be corrected by moving the front teeth up and/or bringing the back teeth together, which will “open” the bite so the teeth are properly aligned and the deep bite is eliminated.Overjet Overjet side view illustration Class II OverjetOverjet is also known as protrusion. In this case, the lower teeth are too far behind the upper front teeth. This can be caused by an improper alignment of the molars (Class II Relationship), a skeletal imbalance of the upper and lower jaw; flared upper incisors, missing lower teeth, or a combination of all of the above. In addition, oral habits such as thumb sucking, finger sucking or tongue thrusting can exacerbate the condition.Overjet should be corrected because it can:

prevent proper functioning of the front teeth
lead to premature wear
make your smile less attractive

How can overjet be orthodontically corrected?Overjet can be corrected through growth modification using a functional appliance and/or elastics to reduce the skeletal imbalance or extraction of teeth.UnderbiteClass III Underbite Underbite side view illustration The lower teeth protrude past the front teeth. An underbite is usually caused by undergrowth of the upper jaw, overgrowth of the lower jaw, or a combination of the two (Class III Relationship). Underbite can also be caused by flared upper incisors, missing lower teeth, or a combination of all of the above. Early correction of underbite is recommended.Underbite should be corrected because it can:

prevent proper functioning of the front teeth or molars which can lead to premature wear of the teeth
cause chewing or eating problems
cause jaw or joint problems
make your smile less attractive

How can an underbite be orthodontically corrected?Underbite can be corrected through growth modification of the jaws, extraction of teeth, and in some cases, surgical correction of the jaws.