Orthodontic Issues in Johnson City, Bristol & Norton
Here to Help
When a person’s teeth or jaws don’t fit together properly, and their bite is off, it’s known as malocclusion. The only way to fix the problem is usually through orthodontic treatment at an expert practice like Sturgill Orthodontics.
Orthodontic Issues & Treatments
If left untreated, malocclusion can cause speech and chewing difficulties, premature wear on the teeth, and protective enamel and even increase the odds of dental injuries.
Everyone’s mouth is different, but the first step in a successful treatment plan is to receive the correct diagnosis. Here are the most common types of malocclusions we see.
01
Underbite
An underbite is characterized by a lower jaw that extends too far out. This causes the lower front teeth to sit outside of the upper front teeth.
It can lead to problems ranging from chewing and speaking difficulties to sleep apnea depending on the severity.
Treatments
It’s really important to get a jumpstart on treating an underbite. If we catch it early while the jaw is still growing, we can use special appliances to guide and advance the growth of the upper teeth and jaw.
If a patient waits until adulthood to address an underbite, they may require surgery to achieve the results they want.
02
Crossbite
A crossbite occurs when the upper teeth are positioned inside of the lower teeth either in the back (posterior crossbite) or the front (anterior crossbite).
Patients will usually compensate by moving their lower jaw forward or to the side, which can create a whole host of problems including facial asymmetry and permanent changes in jaw growth.
Treatments
For an anterior crossbite, we can usually whip the teeth into shape with braces or Invisalign. If we’re dealing with a posterior crossbite, we often expand the upper jaw and then follow up with braces or, sometimes, Invisalign.
03
Protrusion of the Upper Front Teeth
This is a fancy way of saying the top front teeth stick out either because they’re positioned too far forward or the lower teeth are too far back. Protruding front teeth aren’t just an aesthetic concern, they’re also very susceptible to injury.
Treatments
Most of the time, we can move the teeth into position with braces or Invisalign treatment.
04
Overbite
When the upper front teeth extend too far beyond the lower front teeth, it’s known as an overbite. In some cases, the lower front teeth actually bite into the roof of the mouth.
Overbites are associated with a “gummy” smile, protruding lips, and excessive wear on the incisors.
Treatments
If the overbite is more severe and the patient begins treatment early, we can use appliances to help shift the jaws into their correct positions followed by braces.
In other cases, we can remedy the problem with clear braces, metal braces, gold braces, and sometimes lingual braces or Invisalign.
05
Crowding
If there isn’t enough room in the jaw for the teeth to erupt correctly, the teeth come in crooked and will either stick out or overlap. It’s the most common reason people seek out orthodontic treatment.
It doesn’t just make the smile less attractive, it’s also been linked to periodontal problems and dental decay.
Treatments
We try to avoid extractions unless it’s absolutely necessary. Your options may include braces or Invisalign. If it’s severe, we can expand the jaw or re-contour the teeth to make them narrower.
In other cases, we can remedy the problem with clear braces, metal braces, gold braces, and sometimes lingual braces or Invisalign.
06
Spacing
Spacing is the opposite of crowding and it occurs when there’s too much room in the jaw because of genetics, teeth that are too narrow, tooth loss or habits like thumb-sucking.
When the teeth erupt, they can’t fill the entire space and gaps occur. This is another extremely common reason patients undergo orthodontic treatment.
Treatments
Braces or Invisalign will typically do the trick. Occasionally, you may need a little extra help from a dentist who will use veneers to make the teeth wider if the gap is too big to close with orthodontic treatment alone.
07
Openbite
This type of malocclusion can have a big impact on chewing ability because the upper and lower front teeth don’t overlap or meet when the jaws are closed. It can be the result of habits like tongue-thrusting and thumb-sucking or it could be thanks to genetics.
It’s important to have an openbite evaluated early. If it’s a skeletal issue, early intervention could prevent the need for surgery.
Treatments
Treatment for an openbite will vary greatly depending on when it’s addressed, whether or not it’s skeletal and how severe it is.
In some cases, the best option is orthognathic (jaw) surgery combined with braces or Invisalign. When it’s diagnosed in children, early appliances followed by braces or Invisalign may help the patient avoid surgery.
08
Dental Midlines Not Matched
When the midlines of the top and bottom teeth don’t line up it could be because one side of the jaw is longer than the other or because there’s more crowding on either the right or left side of the mouth. It can have a negative impact on jaw and dental function.
Treatments
Cosmetic dentistry combined with orthodontic treatment could be an option or sometimes orthodontics alone (braces or Invisalign) will suffice. If it’s a complex case, there may be a need for certain appliances as well.