Occlusion is defined as the way teeth are aligned and the way upper and lower teeth fit together to give you a perfect bite. Malocclusion of teeth occurs when due to some causes teeth get misaligned, resultantly, an incorrect relation between the upper and lower teeth occurs, causing dental problems. Malocclusion is often referred to as:
- Misaligned teeth
- Crowded teeth
- Over-bite
- Under-bite
- Open –bite
Symptoms Of Malocclusion Of Teeth
The most apparent symptom of malocclusion of teeth is crooked or misaligned teeth. Although physical symptoms of malocclusion aren’t that common, they can range from mild to severe symptoms. Some of which are:
- Discomfort with chewing food
- Frequently biting the cheeks
- Frequently biting the roof of the mouth
- Speech impaired, slurring, trouble with speaking certain words
- Frequent pain in facial muscles or jaw bone
- Permanent teeth growing in incorrect positions
- Frequently breathing through the mouth without closing lips
Causes Of Malocclusion Of Teeth
There are a number of causes which lead to malocclusion of teeth like if a child has a comparatively small jaw, there isn’t enough space for teeth to grow normally, creating a crowded set of teeth. Consequently, the crowded teeth pressurize each other, pushing teeth out of the proper position.
Genetic Malocclusion Of Teeth
Mismatched dental traits– People are prone to inherit mismatched dental traits like the size of teeth or the size of the jaw bone. This leads to either large teeth growing in a smaller jaw, or small teeth growing in a larger jaw that normally drift out of the correct position.
Transposed Teeth– In other cases people might inherit traits that result in absence of certain teeth or teeth that grow in each other’s place, causing misalignment of teeth.
Severe conditions– More severe cases of genetic malocclusion of teeth include a severely underdeveloped lower or upper jaw.
Dental And Oral Habits
Oral habits which place frequent and consistent pressure on teeth gradually shift the teeth out of place. Most common oral habits which lead to malocclusion are:
- Sucking on thumb or finger
- Letting children use pacifiers for more than 5 or 6 hours within a day
- Habits like chewing pencils, opening bottles and using teeth for other purposes
These habits imply irregular pressure on teeth and upon frequent pressurization, teeth become misaligned.
Loss Of Teeth
The empty space created by lost teeth and the consistent pressure on teeth throughout the day cause teeth to gradually shift into the empty space, creating a poor bite and causing further problems. The most common causes of tooth loss which lead to malocclusion are:
- Accidents or severe trauma to teeth
- Severe tooth decay which require the tooth to be removed
- Eating or drinking excess of sugary foods and liquids which lead to erosion and removal of teeth
Malocclusion is also known to cause headaches, shoulder and neck pain. If you are facing problematic malocclusion of teeth,
you can simply call or visit us to have a look at your options towards getting simple and easy treatments.
