Treating Malocclusion for a Healthier Smile

Acquiring a beautiful, flawless, and healthy smile is no easy feat. It requires a lot of discipline, and in some cases, a complete lifestyle overhaul. To get your oral health on track and achieve a beautiful smile, you will need to diligently keep up with your dental appointments and practice proper oral hygiene.

However, at times, practicing proper oral hygiene may be a bit difficult due to underlying dental conditions that compromise not only your smile but your overall oral health. This is particularly true for individuals who suffer from malocclusion and any other orthodontic issues.

Malocclusion conditions such as overbites and underbites tend to impact your oral health and appearance negatively. The good news is that these dental conditions can be fixed.

Our orthodontist in Randolph, MA, has been able to help several of our patients overcome their orthodontic challenges and obtain the smiles they have desired all their lives.

What is Malocclusion?

Malocclusion is a term used to refer to dental conditions that occur as a result of poor alignment of teeth. It comes from the term occlusion, which refers to the alignment and arrangement of teeth.

Your teeth were naturally designed to fit in your mouth comfortably. Your upper jaw should somewhat overlap your lower jaw allowing your teeth to fit into each other like seamless grooves.

When your teeth are misaligned, it can lead to the development of dental health issues, which affect the proper functioning of your teeth and negatively impact your oral and overall health.

Some of the types of malocclusions which our Randolph orthodontist can resolve include:

Malocclusion Symptoms

Depending on the severity of the condition, here are some of the malocclusion symptoms patients exhibit:

• Speech impediment
• Incorrect alignment of teeth
• Frequently biting the tongue or inner cheeks
• An altered facial structure
• Difficulties or discomfort when chewing or biting
• Breathing through your mouth rather than through your nose
• Teeth wearing out abnormally
• Jaw pain
• Constant headaches

What Causes Malocclusion?

In some cases, malocclusion can be genetically passed down the lineage. However, it may also occur due to habits and conditions that alter the jaw bone’s shape and structure. Some of the common causes of malocclusion include:

• Prolonged use of a pacifier in children
• Trauma that may cause jaw misalignment
• Impacted teeth
• Tooth loss
• Thumb sucking
• Cleft lip and palate
• Prolonged bottle-feeding
• Dental prosthetics such as braces, crowns, and fillings that do not fit properly
• Having tumors in the mouth
• Obstruction of the airways

Classification of Malocclusions

Malocclusions are ideally categorized into three main types:

• Class 1

In this type of malocclusion, the upper and the lower jaws of the patient are in the correct position. However, the malocclusion issues emerge due to the overcrowding or improper spacing of teeth.

• Class 2

These malocclusions occur because the upper teeth, in this case, protrude ahead of the lower teeth—this type of malocclusion results in issues such as an overbite and overjet.

• Class 3

In this type of malocclusion, the lower teeth protrude forward, a condition also known as prognathism. This form of malocclusion leads to the development of issues such as an underbite.

Malocclusion Treatment in Adults

People suffering from severe cases of malocclusions may require some form of treatment to rectify the issues. This is because malocclusions alter your appearance and leave you vulnerable to periodontal diseases and tooth decay.

Depending on the type of malocclusion you are suffering from, our dentist near you in Randolph, MA, will analyze your condition, diagnose it, and customize a specific treatment plan to rectify the malocclusion.

There are various treatments that our Randolph orthodontist can recommend depending on a patients issue, and they include:

• The Use of Braces and Invisalign

Our orthodontist may recommend braces to correct the positioning of your teeth. Braces are one of the most commonly used orthodontic prosthetics. They have evolved over time and now come in a vast array of designs and colors.

One of the most popular options patients opt for are the Invisalign clear aligners because they are inconspicuous and aesthetically appealing.

• The Extraction of Teeth to Fix Overcrowding

This treatment may be used together with another orthodontic treatment depending on our orthodontist’s observation.

• Reshaping, Veneers, Bonding, and Crowns

This approach will involve reshaping and resizing your teeth to improve their realignment. After reshaping your teeth, our orthodontist may use a restorative material such as crowns or veneers, to alter the shape and size of the teeth.

• A Surgical Procedure to Stabilize or Reshape the Jawbone

This procedure will help shorten, resize, and reshape your jaw bone to improve your teeth’s position and alignment.

Contact us today at Randolph Dental Group for top-notch orthodontic and malocclusion treatment.