oralhealth

Malocclusion

The word Malocclusion sounds bad, doesn’t it? Well it is one of the most occurring orthodontic problems. Malocclusion in simplest terms means a bad bite. Your teeth are not straight or may be a little crooked. It refers to an overbite or under bite. If you had the misfortune of growing up being called buck teeth, or Bucky Beaver you know what I am referring to.

A perfect bite is known as a occlusion. However a lot of did not or do not have that luxury. Malocclusion is usually hereditary passed down from generation to generation. There are three classes of Malocclusion.

• Class 1 Malocclusion: This one the bite is relatively normal but there maybe crooked teeth or overcrowding.
• Class 2 Malocclusion: This is considered an overbite when the top teeth sits out further than lower teeth. This stems from the upper jaw being bigger than the lower jaw.
• Class 3 Malocclusion: Is basically the exact opposite of class 2. The lower jaw in this case sticks out further than the jaw.

  Malocclusion is treated simply by mouth gear or more commonly known as braces. Sometimes surgery maybe necessary for repair in addition to braces. It is best to get this taken care of as a child if possible. Teeth move easier on kids than on adults.

  Content ℅: 1800Dentist
  Image ℅: Wikimedia Commons
  Sponsored by: Englewood Dental