Types Of Malocclusion
Malocclusion or “poor bite” is a term commonly used to refer to various possible conditions. The most prevalent types include:
Upper Protrusion or Overjet – Commonly known as buck teeth, upper front teeth are pushed in an outward direction, probably due to a small lower jaw. Bad habits as a child like excessive thumb-sucking and pacifier use may also lead to this condition. The upper palate or the roof the mouth’s roof may also be forced to change shape.
Crowding or Spacing Problems – Having too little or excessive room for the teeth may lead to crowding or spacing problems. If there is crowding, the permanent teeth may be impacted or prevented from properly coming in.
Misplaced Midline – If your midline is misplaced, this means that the center line of your upper front teeth does not match up with its counterpart in the lower front teeth.
Open Bite – While a person with an open bit may have molars that fit together, there is no overlap between the lower and upper front teeth. Thus, an opening in the mouth exists. Either or both the left and right sides of the mouth can have an open bite.
Overbite – If you have an excessive overbite, your upper front teeth are reaching down too far over your lower front teeth. In your case of overbite is severe, your lower teeth may even touch the roof of your mouth.
Underbite – In this case, the lower front teeth are positioned farther forward in relation to the upper front teeth.
Cross Bite – This happens when an upper tooth or any number of upper teeth is positioned in the wrong side of the teeth on the lower part of the mouth.
Rotation – There is a rotation when a tooth is abnormally tipped or turned out of position.
Transposition – This happens when a tooth erupts or grows in another tooth’s place.
The Normal Fit
Ideally upper teeth should be positioned slightly forward compared to the lower teeth. If the fit is not normal, the classification is determined by how the upper teeth are matched up with the lower teeth. The jawbone is likewise checked for the appropriate position relative to the teeth.
Class I – While upper and lower molars may be positioned properly, the teeth either have too much space or crowded together. In severe cases, rotations, cross bites, and overlapping may occur as well.
Class II – The lower and upper molars fit. However, they are positioned in the direction of the throat, and this causes the chin to draw back.
Class III – In this case, lower molars are way ahead of the upper molars. This results to jutting lower front teeth and jaw that figure in a cross bite.
Children born with jaw structure problems may experience malocclusion. Likewise, malocclusion may force the jaw joint out of position.