Misaligned teeth can cause overbite, underbite, crossbite, and overcrowding among other oral health issues. This condition knows clinically as malocclusion. The difficulty of performing essential oral tasks like chewing, biting, and speaking increases when the teeth go out of place, but an orthodontist, who is highly educated in treating all sorts of malocclusions, may successfully change the way your teeth line up in the jaw. Even while malocclusion is not life-threatening, it greatly affects a person’s social connections and self-esteem. To realign the misaligned jaw and crooked teeth, orthodontic therapy uses a number of instruments and methods.
What Are The Different Malocclusion Classifications?
Class 1, Class 2, and Class 3 malocclusions are the most common types. Your dentist will analyse the sort of malocclusion you have once dental X-rays have been taken and your teeth’s alignment has been established.
Malocclusion Of Class 1
When your upper teeth cross over your lower teeth, you have class 1, one of the most prevalent forms of malocclusions. However, in this group, the degree of dental misalignment is not significant, and your bite is unaffected.
There are three varieties of class 1 malocclusion:
Type 1: The teeth incline toward the tongue’s direction.
Type 2: Lower teeth tilt toward the tongue, while the top teeth protrude.
Type 3: There is crowding and a slanting of the upper teeth toward the tongue.
Malocclusion Of Class 2
When your top teeth stick out more than your lower teeth, you have Class 2. This lesson hurts your bite and is intense. The most common cause of class 2 malocclusion is retrognathism, or a smaller jaw.
Before your oral health worsens, you need to have orthodontic treatment right now. However, class 2 can be permanently cured with the right care and therapy.
There are two categories:
Section 1: The top teeth slant in the direction of the lips.
Section 2: Tongue-facing upper central incisors.
Malocclusion Of Class 3
An underbite known as class 3 malocclusion occurs when your bottom teeth stick out further than your top teeth. A class 3 malocclusion may be caused by prognathism, a disorder marked by an enlarged lower jaw.
Three different kinds of class 3 malocclusion exist:
Type 1: You have an odd dental arch with your teeth.
Type 2: The lower teeth face the tongue.
Type 3: An uneven upper arch and a tilt in the top teeth toward the tongue
What Different Sorts Of Malocclusions Are There?
Malocclusion, which refers to nine distinct forms of misaligned teeth, includes:
Overcrowding
One of the most frequent reasons people seek orthodontic treatment is overcrowding. It results from the shortage of space in your mouth.
Spacing
Small teeth, extended thumb sucking, missing teeth, and tongue pushing all contribute to spacing. This problem causes crowding and affects the eruption of a child’s permanent teeth because it affects two or more teeth.
Big Bite
There is an opening in the mouth when the top and lower front teeth don’t overlap. It refers to as an open bite. Anterior open bite, the term use when the open bite just affects your front teeth. However, any side of your mouth may have this issue.
Overjet
When you have overjet, your top teeth stick out from your bottom teeth, making it harder to eat and communicate.
Overbite
While some degree of overlapping on the lower teeth is typical, overbite results when this occurs in an inappropriate way. Your lower front teeth may bite the roof of your mouth, while your higher front teeth may bite your gums.
Underbite
When your lower front teeth stick out significantly from your higher front teeth, you have an underbite, sometimes referred to as an anterior crossbite.
Crossbite
Your front teeth, rear teeth, or either side of your jaw might all exhibit a crossbite. A crossbite occurs when your upper teeth occlude your lower teeth.
Diastema
Generally known as gapping teeth, a diastema is a dental condition in which a space occurs between two adjacent teeth. The front two teeth most often correspond to these teeth.
Missing Tooth
A trauma or poor tooth growth will result in hypodontia, or tooth loss.
Why Do Malocclusions Occur?
The following circumstances or behaviours might alter the jaw’s structure and shape:
- Lip and palate deformity
- Frequent pacifier usage after the age of three
- Extended bottle feeding throughout the early years
- Early childhood thumbsucking
- Injuries that cause the jaw to be out of alignment
- Tumours in the jaw or mouth
- Impacted or unusually formed teeth
- Inadequate dental treatment that leads in dental fillings, crowns, or braces that don’t fit properly
- Mouth breathing due to airway blockage that may be brought on by allergies or big tonsils or adenoids
What Signs And Symptoms Indicate A Malocclusion?
The symptoms vary depending on the kind of malocclusion you have. However they are moderate to severe and consist of:
- Speech impediments
- Crooked teeth
- Difficulty biting or chewing
- Oral breathing issues
- Tongue or cheek-biting
- Changes to facial structure
Treatment Options For Malocclusion
People who find visually ugly misaligned teeth are always looking for solutions to remove them. The good news is that the following dental procedures can use to address your malocclusion:
Braces
One of the most time-tested and reliable ways to treat malocclusion is with braces. Though lingual, ceramic, or metal braces may be recommended by an orthodontist for you, depending on how severe your situation is.
Invisalign
Transparent aligners called Invisalign may be taken out when eating and are worn for 20 to 22 hours each day. Moreover Invisalign straightens your smile and corrects all forms of malocclusions, just like braces do.
Surgery
Orthodontic surgery is a somewhat uncommon alternative for treating malocclusions and use to treat severe, unhealed jaw fractures as well as hereditary jaw problems.
Removable Techniques
Due to their ease, removable orthodontic appliances like retainers are becoming more and more common. They are made to fit the shape of your teeth and jaw. Besides, the length of the treatment depends on the nature of your dental issue.
Final Verdict
By beginning treatment at a young age, you’ll benefit from shorter treatment times and lower costs. Treatment is beneficial for everyone, including adults.
