Dental malocclusion is an alteration in the meshing of the teeth caused by a misalignment of the teeth or because the maxillary bone and the mandible do not coordinate in position and size. Only 5% of the population does not present dental malocclusion. We can distinguish between different types of dental malocclusion:
- Class I. There is only crowding.
- Class II. The teeth of the maxilla are more advanced with respect to the teeth of the mandible.
- Class III. The teeth of the mandible are more advanced with respect to the teeth of the maxilla.
- Other malocclusions. Crossbite, open bite and overbite are transverse and vertical problems of occlusion.
Causes
Malocclusion can have different origins, the following are the most important ones:
- Genetic. Against this origin we can do nothing.
- Eating habits. When foods are soft the teeth do not wear down as they should, which causes the teeth not to enter the bone and they become crowded and out of place.
- If teeth are prematurely extracted and space maintainers are not placed.
- If a child has caries as a child, he or she loses space and the permanent teeth do not have room to erupt.
Consequences and treatment
The problems derived from malocclusion can range from headaches or migraines to arthrosis, muscular pain or tooth wear and fracture. The fact that the teeth are crowded also makes it difficult to have a correct hygiene, which favors the appearance of more caries.
The only way to treat it is through orthodontics, which in addition to correcting the position of the teeth for aesthetic purposes, ensures that the teeth of the maxilla and mandible fit together well, and therefore the patient gains quality of life.
Orthodontics in children seeks to balance the growth of the maxillary bones and promote the correct eruption of the permanent teeth. In adolescents and adults we seek the correct meshing of all teeth. It is important that the first visit to the orthodontist is made at 6 years of age.