When the meshing of the lower jaw and upper jaw does not fit together correctly, we speak of dental malocclusion.
What are the causes of dental malocclusion?
On several occasions malocclusion can be due to hereditary factors (anomalies in craniofacial development), but there are also other causes:
- Bad habits since childhood.
- Disharmonies in the number, size or position of the teeth.
- Dental losses or absences.
- Trauma or loss of dental support due to periodontal disease.
What types of malocclusion are there?
1. Vertical plane
A good bite occurs when one third of the upper arch overlaps the lower arch. When this does not occur there are two types of malocclusion:
- Open bite: lack of overlap of the teeth in the vertical plane.
- Overbite: when the teeth of the upper arch surpass the lower teeth by more than one third. In more extreme cases, the upper teeth may completely overbite the lower teeth.
2. Transverse plane
- Scissor bite: the upper arch protrudes much more than normal from the transverse plane.
- Crossbite: the upper arch is positioned inside the lower arch.
3. Anteroposterior plane
In this plane there are three different types of bite:
- Class I: the correct bite. There is a good occlusion between the maxilla and mandible, so that the teeth do not collide with each other.
- Class II: the upper arch is forward of the lower arch, generating a protrusion and increasing the distance between the upper and lower teeth.
- Class III: the lower arch is advanced with respect to the upper arch.
How is malocclusion corrected?
Correct occlusion and alignment are the main objectives of orthodontics. The advantages of orthodontic treatment in correcting the patient’s occlusion are as follows:
- Improve oral health: dental crowding hinders proper cleaning of the teeth. This favors the appearance of caries, gingivitis and periodontal disease.
- Dental and periodontal stability: crowding can cause a displacement of the supporting bone and generate gum recession and a lack of periodontal support.
- Improve chewing function: sometimes there are difficulties in chewing and teeth may have increased wear.
- Improve speech: some neuromuscular disorders and bad habits generate speech problems. These can cause malocclusion.
- Esthetic and psychosocial improvement: Severe malocclusions and severe dentofacial anomalies can have a negative effect on a person’s self-esteem. Correcting such problems helps patients feel better about themselves.
For more information on dental malocclusion contact a dental specialist.