Crowding
Crowding (the most common orthodontic problem) occurs when teeth have insufficient room to erupt from the gum. Lack of space can be from a jaw that is too small to fit all of the teeth. Crowding can often be corrected by expansion (enlarging the dental arch), filing between teeth, or removing adult teeth. With early intervention, many times tooth removal can be avoided.
Spacing
Spacing between teeth may be caused by small or missing teeth, or thick gum tissue preventing teeth from coming together. The spaces may only be a cosmetic or esthetic concern, but they also can create funtional and speaking problems.
Crossbite
A crossbite occurs when the upper teeth bite inside the lower teeth, which may cause misaligned jaw growth. An anterior crossbite (underbite) is when the upper front teeth bite behind the lower front teeth.
Overjet / Protrusion
An overjet is when the upper front teeth extend ahead of the lower front teeth, sometimes causing the lower front teeth to bite into the roof of the mouth. This type of bite can cause damage to the gum tissue of the roof of the mouth and may lead to uneven wear of the chewing surfaces of the teeth. Also, a severe protrusion can leave the upper front teeth susceptible to trauma.
Overbite
An overbite is when the upper front teeth excessively overlap the lower front teeth when biting (over-closure of the bite). In this type of bite, the lower front teeth are usually hidden behind the upper teeth. This can cause damage to the gum tissue around the lower front teeth and the roof of the mouth.
Openbite
An openbite is when the upper and lower front teeth do not meet when biting down. Openbites may be caused by a number of unwanted habits, such as thumb sucking and tongue thrusting. Proper function and speaking is adversely affected in openbite cases.
Underbite
An underbite is characterized by the lower jaw extending out, causing the lower front teeth to sit in front of the upper front teeth. This is usually caused by excessive growth of the lower jaw. Damage to the teeth and gums can result from being left untreated.
Dental Midlines not Matched
This type of problem is caused when there is an asymmetry in the alignment of the upper and lower jaws. Usually this is caused by missing teeth or a crossbite on one side of the mouth, causing the lower jaw to shift to the one side. Uneven midlines can sometimes be a sign of uneven growth of the lower jaw.
