The following images illustrate some of the more common problems we see, and how we correct them:
Crowding of the Teeth
This happens when there isn’t room enough in the jaw for teeth to fit normally. It causes teeth to overlap and sometimes get pushed to the front or back. Crowded teeth can make it hard to brush and floss well, so it can even lead to tooth decay and gum disease. Additionally, this can get worse over time.
Open Bite – Front Teeth Don’t Touch
Open bites occur when upper and lower teeth fail to touch when the mouth is closed. This can make it difficult to bite into or chew foods.
Deep Overbite – Lower Front Teeth Bite Into Palate
Usually, people’s upper front teeth overlap a little with the lower front teeth. However, when the overbite is too large it can wear down teeth and even cause jaw pain. Ideally, you should have an overbite between 5 to 25 percent. If your overbite falls outside that ideal, it might be best to have it corrected.
Crossbite – Misalignment of Dental Arches
If you close your mouth and find that some of your upper teeth are sitting inside your lower teeth (rather than on the outside), you might have a crossbite. This can cause your teeth to wear down or chip. Additionally, crossbites can make your gums recede or make little notches above your gum line, which can lead to painful gum issues and even bone loss.
Underbite – Lower Front Teeth in Front of Upper Teeth
An underbite occurs when the mouth is closed and the lower front teeth are in front of the upper teeth. In many cases, this happens because the lower jaw is too far forward. An underbite can make chewing properly and speaking clearly difficult as well as cause teeth to wear down faster.
Spacing of Teeth
This is quite simple! Gap teeth happen when there is extra space between two or more teeth. Although it may seem purely cosmetic, having gap teeth creates pockets between your teeth and gums where food can get stuck. This can make the gums painful, and it can even lead to gum disease.
Phase One Treatment
This treatment is usually performed on young children, ideally around the ages of 7 and 8. It’s a way to prime the jaw for more complex work, like braces, and is done around this age while the jawbones are still growing and easier to manipulate. Correcting your child’s jaw placement early on can help with issues like a bad bite, and can prevent more invasive procedures later in life, like jaw surgery. Additionally, it can help stop habits like thumb sucking, which affects teeth alignment.
Do you have any of the issues described on this page? If you are concerned, schedule an appointment with Dr. Cochran. She’ll assess the severity of your case and design a treatment plan specifically for you!