Orthodontic problems can happen because of many different reasons. Among them are genetic disorders, trauma from experiencing a fall, or old age. Any common orthodontic issue can be solved with proper consultation between the patient and their orthodontist. The following are common orthodontics problems and treatment options available today at Elara Orthodontics.
Here’s a comprehensive list of common Orthodontics Issues
Overbite
This is an orthodontic condition whereby the upper teeth extend over the lower teeth. The condition could result from having a small jaw, tooth loss, oral health during childhood, and tooth loss. In severs scenarios, an overbite can make it challenging for an individual to bite food because the lower teeth touch the roof of the mouth. In less severe cases, the condition might not even require correction not unless the patient wishes to undergo treatment.
The ideal treatment option for an overbite is braces, which can be done on adults and children. During the procedure, an X-ray is carried out to determine the type of overbite. It also helps in knowing how the teeth have been attached to the jaw. Metal braces are then fixed on the teeth to correct the alignment. The length at which the patient stays with the braces varies depending on the severity of the condition. The best Orthodontics in Richmond would carry out follow-up procedures to ensure the patient has good dental health.
Underbite
In this case, the lower jaw is longer than the upper jaw, making the lower teeth extend over the upper ones. Individuals with an underbite are more prone to tooth decay or developing an infection in their gums or tongue due to improper brushing and flossing. Although the condition is not very common, it can be corrected with the help of braces and retainers. When correcting an underbite using braces, the orthodontist would first use a wire to stabilize any loose or shifted teeth that might affect proper alignment. The brace is then attached to the back teeth using brackets fixed on several wires before inserting new ones. The usual time to wear the metal braces is between 9 and 15 months. However, the time will depend on how severe the condition is.
Crossbite
This is an orthodontic problem whereby the upper and the lower teeth do not overlap properly. This problem is normally a result of genetic or developmental issues that might have occurred in the earlier years of life. For instance, certain muscles and ligaments are not developed in children to allow the mouth to be properly aligned. Mouth breathing, sucking thumbs, losing milk teeth too early, or tongue sucking is common causes of a crossbite. Braces are always recommended as a treatment option, especially for adolescents. In this case, braces are worn to change the shape of the jaw while chewing food.
What Causes Protruding Front Teeth
This condition results when the front teeth are in a position that makes them protrude out of the gums. In most cases, protruding front teeth develop because of misalignment or a low jaw. This may lead to orthodontic problems such as intermaxillary elastics, crooked teeth, and large spaces between the front teeth.
The condition can also be caused by tongue-thrusting, which leads to malocclusion. A malocclusion is the improper alignment of the jaws, which can be expressed as an overbite or an underbite.
Jaw tumors and cysts are also other causes of this condition. These health problems are rare, but when they occur, they can make huge changes to an individual’s dental formula. Periodontal diseases could also be a major cause of this condition since they affect bone stability.
Protruding front teeth may not require treatment if it does not affect your dental health. If you experience difficulties while chewing or speaking, consult your doctor. The orthodontist can be of great help in any of these cases. They might recommend a lower power brace attached to the back teeth only and will push the front teeth back into their original position. The process normally takes between 9 and 15 months, but it can take longer depending on the problem’s severity.
See also: Corrective Jaw Surgery (Jaw Orthognathic Surgery)
Dental Midlines Not Matched
This problem occurs when the upper and lower teeth are not symmetrically aligned. When you draw a straight line in the middle of your face, it will not pass between the two large teeth as expected. This means you have the common orthodontics issues of midlines not matched. It usually develops because of an injury to the jaw or a tooth that is not aligned properly. The injury might have happened during infancy or the early years of an individual’s life. Sometimes, this condition can be caused by genetic factors as well.
The best Orthodontics in Richmond would examine your mouth to determine how severe the condition is and how it can be treated before recommending a suitable treatment plan.
Most patients experience a change in this condition after wearing braces for more than 6 months. However, in some cases, the patient may need to undergo a prolonged treatment phase.
Missing Lateral Incisors
This condition occurs when a tooth fails to grow in the jawbone. Also called an absent tooth, this condition makes it difficult for the teeth to function normally. The condition is genetic; therefore, people should not be worried about its presence but should seek medical assistance.
The earlier you detect this condition, the better your treatment options are. This is why it is recommended to have a dental examination done on children at the age of 7 years. The process would help doctors determine whether the lateral incisors are developing well or not.
The orthodontist would determine whether a bridge or a growing tooth has replaced the missing tooth. The orthodontist will then work on designing an appropriate treatment plan depending on your needs. They will position new teeth or remove decaying teeth to make space in the jaws. The treatment typically lasts between 6 and 10 months, but it can vary depending on how severe the condition is.
The treatment plans vary based on various factors. For instance, they might depend on the facial structure, aesthetic preferences, dental structure, and teeth morphology.
The main treatment option is creating a space where the tooth should have been to allow for implants. The other option is to move the canine into the space for the missing tooth.
Spacing of the Teeth
One of the common Orthodontics Issues is spacing of the teeth. Teeth spacing can be either normal or excessive, and abnormal alignment is a common orthodontics issues among people. Teeth that are too close together might cause problems in chewing food, especially after wearing braces. On the other hand, teeth that are too far apart might not be able to fit into a dental retainer.
To treat this problem, the orthodontist will first determine how many teeth should be removed to create an appropriate space for the lower and upper molars to meet properly.
The doctor would then design and recommend a correction plan that best suits the patient’s needs. If you miss a tooth, it can be replaced with either a fixed or a removable appliance depending on the problem’s severity.
The treatment period varies depending on how long it takes to remove unwanted teeth and whether there are gaps between the newly created spaces. Spacing of teeth is a dental problem corrected by braces.
The most common treatment plan for spacing issues is to make the lower teeth move upward using a classic orthodontic appliance. Depending on the patient’s needs, the tooth can also be moved downward or forward.
The appliance is connected to both upper and lower teeth simultaneously or only one set.
Crowding
Crowding is a condition that occurs when several teeth touch each other. Usually, crowding occurs because of the size or location of the teeth. However, it can also occur if the jaw lacks space to support dental structures. Crowding can affect the lower or upper teeth as well as both lips or other facial features such as cheeks, eye sockets, nose, or lips.
Several factors make crowding happen, including genetics and the growth of milk teeth.
Gathering problems happen when the teeth are placed closer together in the mouth, and the spaces between them get narrower.
The orthodontist would determine whether the patient may need to undergo advanced treatment and whether they can be treated with removable or fixed appliances.
The treatment period varies depending on how severe this condition is. In some cases, it may take less than 6 months, while in others, it may take longer.
Deep Bite
A deep bite is an orthodontic problem when the upper and lower teeth overlap. It is most prevalent among younger children and is most likely to occur in males. A deep bite is caused by a short bottom jaw, excessive jaw energy, or an abnormal jaw position.
The condition requires the orthodontist to assess multiple factors, including facial structure, tooth structures, teeth morphology, and jaw anatomy, before recommending a treatment plan.
They will also determine whether the patient needs to wear a retainer for more than 6 months or only for a shorter period.
It can be custom-made for the patient to protect their teeth, prevent embarrassment, and cover dental prostheses.
Overjet
This is a condition that happens when the upper teeth protrude more than the lower teeth.
The only difference with an overbite is that the upper teeth sit on the lower teeth at a particular angle. This angel varies from person to person, and it could affect their ability to completely close their lips.
Reverse Overjet is a condition that occurs when the lower teeth protrude more than the upper teeth. An overbite causes the reverse overjet, medically termed the Marcus Gunn phenomenon.
This condition is a genetic problem requiring an orthodontic checkup to ensure you have no gum disease, tooth decay, or infection.
The doctors at Elara Orthodontics in Richmond Texas would then recommend a treatment plan depending on the problem’s severity. The time taken to correct the condition would also vary from one patient to another. The common treatment options are braces of Invisalign.
Hypodontia
A developmental orthodontic problem in which one or several teeth are missing is hypodontia. It can be caused by a genetic defect, trauma to the gums, infection, and other diseases and excludes the third molars. Hypodontia is one of the common orthodontics issues that can affect an individual appearance, especially if it is a milk tooth.
After the doctor has determined how many teeth are missing, they would recommend a treatment plan based on the patient’s needs. The common treatment options include dental implants and bridges.
Vertical Alignment
Vertical misalignment occurs when there is a variation in the alignment of upper and lower teeth. The upper teeth lean in one direction while the lower teeth lean in another direction. This is one of the common orthodontics problems that occur in children. It can be classified as an overbite or underbite and requires professional intervention.
The correction plan depends on whether there are issues in other facial features like lips, cheeks, eye sockets, nose, or ears. The correction can take months to correct such orthodontics problems.
Openbite
An open bite is a condition that occurs when the upper and lower teeth are not aligned properly, making it challenging for the individual to close their lips. It could also be an opening inside the top row of teeth and, in some cases, the bottom row of teeth. It is also referred to as a posterior crossbite.
An overjet can cause an open bite, or it could be a malocclusion (an irregular alignment). In some cases, this orthodontic problem only affects one tooth, while all teeth are involved in others.
It is a dental problem corrected by braces. The time required to treat this problem varies from person to person, and it also depends on the severity.
Impacted Teeth
When tooth eruption is delayed, it is referred to as impacted teeth. An impacted tooth requires treatment to avoid other complications and improve the smile’s aesthetics. The common orthodontics problems with impacted teeth are dental decay, chipped teeth, and gum infection.
Impacted teeth are not uncommon as they affect approximately 2-3% of all children. However, some cases may go undiagnosed because of their location in the mouth and facial features or when they are only a single incisor.
An established orthodontic treatment plan takes into consideration the whole case and its effects on the patient’s appearance.
Incisor Overbite
An incisor overbite occurs when the upper incisors are exposed more than other teeth. Its characteristics include overlapping and spacing between the upper and lower teeth. This is a genetic or developmental problem, and it is one of the common Orthodontics Issues.
Different treatment options are available for an incisor overbite, including removable or fixed appliances and braces. However, it takes less than 6 months to treat this problem in most cases.
Buccal Overbite
A buccal overbite is when the lower front teeth are in front of the upper front teeth. This common orthodontic problem can be caused by an overbite, which needs to be treated immediately.
Some studies have proved that the most successful treatment for a buccal overbite is braces, but others have proven that wearing a retainer for longer than 6 months will also be effective in correcting this problem.
Erupted Alveolar Process
An erupted alveolar process occurs when the lower teeth are not in the same position as other teeth. It is one of the common orthodontics problems that affect about 6-10% of children, and it requires a treatment plan that follows the individual’s needs.
The treatment plan may include bracing or, in some cases, removable appliances like clear braces to assist with this problem.
Excessive Gingival Display
This orthodontic condition occurs when the upper front teeth protrude from the gums, giving the impression of a bucktooth. It is a common Orthodontics Issues that can affect anyone and requires an orthodontic treatment plan.
The treatment plan depends on whether the patient has double rows of teeth or not and how severe the condition is. The most common treatment options include braces and gum surgery.
Where to go in Richmond to treat common Orthodontics Issues
Are you worried that an orthodontic condition would lower your self-esteem? Visit Elara Orthodontics in Richmond Texas, to discuss the best remedy for your condition. Our experts are focused on restoring your smile to complete perfection. When some of the orthodontic issues go untreated, they could cause you major teeth complications in the future.