Why it’s Important
Understanding Healthy Occlusion and Malocclusion
A healthy occlusion means your teeth and jaws are properly aligned and work together harmoniously. But when something is off—commonly known as a “bad bite” or malocclusion—it means your teeth, jaws, or both aren’t in the correct positions.
Various dental issues can lead to a malocclusion, requiring orthodontic treatment to fix. These issues might include crowding, gaps, improper jaw development, or certain teeth not erupting in the right place. Habits like thumb sucking or tongue thrusting can also cause bite problems, as can teeth shifting into gaps left by extractions or tooth loss. Sometimes, teeth develop in a way that prevents them from coming in at all—these are known as impacted teeth.
Both genetics and environmental factors play a role in malocclusion. Injuries that misalign the jaws and diseases like oral tumors can also impact how your teeth come together.
When to Address Malocclusion
In children, most alignment and jaw growth issues can be spotted by the time they’re in first or second grade. That’s why the American Association of Orthodontists recommends that every child see an orthodontic specialist by age 7. While many kids start orthodontic treatment between ages 9 and 14, some may need earlier or interceptive care, especially if there are significant jaw alignment issues. Treatment might even continue throughout their growth and development.
But it’s important to know that malocclusion can be treated at any age. Many adults seek orthodontic treatment to correct teeth or jaw issues that have bothered them since childhood or to fix teeth that have shifted over time due to extractions, habits, or bite problems.
Diagnosing and Treating Malocclusion
While a clinical exam can reveal a malocclusion, a thorough evaluation is necessary to make a complete diagnosis and create the best treatment plan.
Types of Malocclusions
Malocclusions are typically classified into three main types based on the alignment and bite issues:
- Class I: The most common type, where the bite is normal, but the teeth are misaligned.
- Class II: Known as an “overbite,” where the upper teeth are positioned ahead of the lower teeth with more overlap.
- Class III: Known as an “underbite” or mandibular prognathism, where the lower jaw and front teeth are in front of the upper teeth.
Most malocclusions respond well to orthodontic treatment, but some cases may require a combination of orthodontics and orthognathic surgery to correct the jaw’s skeletal structure.
