Malocclusion

Malocclusion is a medical condition that means the misalignment of teeth between the upper and lower sets (i.e. the two dental arches). It was first coined by Edward Angle – who is known as the father of modern orthodontics.

Basically, it is derived from the word ‘occlusion’ that refers to the bringing together of the opposing surfaces of the teeth of the two jaws into contact. Thus, malocclusion in turn can also be described as simply ‘improper occlusion’.

“How Does Malocclusion Present?”

Honestly, malocclusion is a lot more common than you might think. Most people have mild misalignment of the teeth in some way or other, but that is rarely ever a problem. A person with very mild malocclusion could go their entire lives without suffering from any negative affects!

On the other hand in serious cases it can lead to a greater risk of tooth decay, lots of pressure on the joint of the jaw, and some other issues too.

Needless to say, many people feel that it can even look less than appealing considering it looks less than uniform. So if you want a brilliant white smile with evenly spaced and aligned teeth, you’re going to need to think about correcting any misalignment.

Types and Classifications of Malocclusion

All in all, there are various types and classifications of malocclusion – and understanding them can be very technical. What you should know however is that this condition is normally divided into three classes that are based on how the molars align with one another.

Each classification can be mild or severe in its own right, and considering it is your teeth – you should be able to see firsthand whether or not it requires treatment.

Naturally, even if you do not notice anything wrong – your dentist should be able to pick up on it fairly quickly.

Crowding of Teeth - Open Bite

While the exact cause of crowding of teeth is unknown, the fact of the matter is that when coupled with malocclusion it can lead to teeth growing drastically out of place. Some even suggest that the misalignment of teeth could actually cause overcrowding in the first place.

Whatever the case, crowding of teeth is normally treated with orthodontics and a combination of teeth extraction, braces, and sometimes even jaw surgery if the case is serious enough to warrant it.

As you can imagine, it is better if this condition is treated early if possible, as once you become an adult and the crowding causes your teeth to grow out of place – you could have issues correcting it.

End of the day, malocclusion could possibly be caused by various habits that put pressure on the teeth. Some of these habits could have occurred in childhood, such as sucking thumbs or pacifiers.

Regardless, if you feel that you have a serious case of this condition – you should start off by seeing an orthodontist about it. Although you might not have any negative signs just yet – why wait until later to fix something that could lead to further issues?

Malocclusion Commitment

Find out about malocclusion and how this medical condition that consists of the misalignment of teeth can lead to further problems. Also find out how you could fix it with the help of an orthodontist.