COMMON ORTHODONTIC ISSUES
Crowding of the teeth
Patient started treatment at age 11 and wore braces for 26 months. He loves his new smile.
Open bite - Front teeth don't touch
Patient sucked her thumb as a young child. She started treatment at age 13. She had braces and a special appliance — called a crib — to retrain the tongue, for 28 months. Now she can bite the lettuce out of a sandwich.
Deep overbite - Lower front teeth bite into palate
This adult patient, age 25, required braces and jaw surgery to correct his severe overbite, with treatment taking two years. His problem could have been corrected without surgery if he had been treated before he was a teenager.
Missing lateral incisors
This patient's lateral incisors were congenitally missing. She had braces for 20 months to move the teeth into their correct positions, then the missing teeth were replaced with bonded "Maryland" bridges.
Underbite - Lower front teeth in front of upper teeth
Patient's underbite was causing her jaw joint discomfort and excessive wear patterns on her teeth. After about 30 months of treatment starting at age 32, she now finds smiling and chewing much easier.
Spacing of teeth
Patient was bothered by the spaces between his teeth. Braces closed the spaces and gave him an ideal bite in 24 months. Special glued-in retainers help keep the spaces closed.
Overjet - Protruding front teeth
At age ten, patient had a big overjet with the top teeth protruding beyond the bottom. She had two phases of treatment. The first helped her jaws to grow more harmoniously and the second aligned her teeth and bite. At age 13, she was proudly displaying her new smile.
Non-braces treatment
Sometimes braces are not needed to get noticeable improvements in tooth alignment. This patient was first seen at age seven for crowding of the lower permanent teeth. A procedure was performed to reduce the width of the adjacent baby teeth and the permanent incisors aligned on their own in nine months.
braces, patient's appearance and dental function were vastly improved.
Phase-One
Patient's parents were concerned about both aesthetics and the health of the erupting permanent teeth when they brought him to the orthodontist at age eight. The lower front teeth were crowded and touching the palate, and the upper front teeth were extremely displaced from their normal positions. After 12 months of Phase-One treatment with an expander and partial braces, patient's appearance and dental function were vastly improved.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What are the most common orthodontic problems?
Common orthodontic issues include crooked or crowded teeth, gaps between teeth (spacing), overbite (upper teeth overlapping lower), underbite (lower teeth protruding past upper), crossbite (teeth not fitting together properly), and open bite (front teeth not touching when biting). These conditions affect both the appearance and function of your bite.
2. What causes crooked or crowded teeth?
Crooked or crowded teeth occur when there isn’t enough space in the jaw for all the teeth to align properly. Genetics, early loss of baby teeth, or jaw size differences can contribute to teeth overlapping, twisting, or misalignment.
3. What is an overbite, and why does it matter?
An overbite is when the upper front teeth excessively overlap the lower front teeth. Severe overbites can cause difficulty chewing, speech issues, gum irritation, and worn enamel. Orthodontic care helps align the bite for better function and comfort.
4. Can orthodontic treatment fix these common issues?
Yes. Braces, clear aligners, and other orthodontic appliances are designed to correct spacing, crowding, overbite, underbite, crossbite, and open bite by gradually moving teeth into better alignment for improved function and smile aesthetics.
5. When should a child be evaluated for orthodontic issues?