Crossbite
Crossbite 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
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. Timing of treatment is critical to the overall success of the therapy.
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 over development 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
- Cause unusual wear of the lower front teeth
- Cause jaw or joint problems
- Make your smile less attractive
Overjet
Class II Overjet
Overjet 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 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