Malocclusion is improper and poor positioning of the teeth while occlusion is the alignment and spacing of your upper jaw and lower teeth when you bite down. So, today our Nyberg Orthodontics team would like to teach you a little bit about the different problems that could occur to your bite. Generally, there are four problems your orthodontist, Dr. Lynnette Nyberg, sees the most, and those problems are:
Open bite
An open bite involves an anterior opening between the upper and lower teeth. When you bite down, your back teeth will touch but your front teeth will not. This problem is caused by thumb sucking or tongue thrusting.
Overbite
An overbite involves the vertical overlapping of the upper teeth over the lower teeth. The upper teeth will slide over the lower teeth and will cover them, making it look like you have no lower teeth at all. This issue is caused by genetics or a misaligned jaw. It can also be caused by daily habits, like eraser chewing and nail biting.
Overjet
An overjet involves the horizontal projection of the upper teeth beyond the lower teeth. Generally, the front teeth will protrude farther and will make it look like you have “buck teeth.” This issue is due to a large upper jaw, a small lower jaw, or a combination of the two.
Crossbite
A crossbite occurs when the top teeth bite inside the lower teeth. This can happen with the front or back teeth. This issue is due to genetics, prolonged thumb sucking, tongue thrusting, misaligned teeth, or missing teeth.
If you would like to know more about malocclusion in Dover, New Hampshire, or if you have any questions, please call and talk to a member of our friendly orthodontic team. We are more than happy to help you!
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