Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSymptomsCausesDiagnosisTreatment
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Symptoms
Causes
Diagnosis
Treatment
Why is this important? Though many people prefer the upper and lower teeth fitting together properly for aesthetic (visual) purposes, this is also optimal placement of the teeth as it prevents dental problems, like shifting of the teeth.
A person with malocclusion often consults with an orthodontist directly or after receiving a referral from a general dentist. Orthodontists are dentists who have specialized training in correcting and preventing irregular teeth, correcting an abnormal bite and problems originating with the jaws (such asTMJ). Additional types of specialized training that orthodontists have include diagnosing irregularities in facial structure as well as facial abnormalities.
Verywell / Emily Roberts
The symptoms of malocclusion differ depending on the classification, but some common symptoms may include misaligned teeth, abnormal signs of wear on chewing surfaces of the teeth, problems chewing or biting food, mouth or jaw pain, and/or frequently biting the inside of the cheek when chewing. In addition, a person may have a malformation of facial features and could even develop a lisp (or other speech problems).
There is no single cause of malocclusion. Many times, malocclusion is hereditary. The underlying cause may be a size difference between the upper and lower jaws, or it could result from thumb sucking (after age five). The shape of the jaw could be the cause of malocclusion, or it might result from a birth defect of the mouth—such as cleft lip or cleft palate.
Malocclusion Categories
There are various types of malocclusion, therefore, several categories have been identified.
Class 1 Malocclusion
This is the most common type of malocclusion where the bite is normal, but the teeth slightly overlap the lower teeth more than they normally should.
Class 2 Malocclusion
This is commonly referred to as an overbite. This occurs when the upper jaw and teeth severely overlap the bottom teeth.
Class 3 Malocclusion
Class 3 is commonly referred to as underbite, or prognathism (in dental terminology). This type of malocclusion happens when the lower jaw juts forward, causing the lower teeth to overlap the upper teeth.
Each type of malocclusion requires a different type of orthodontic device to correct the problem. There are several common types of malocclusions, including:
Overcrowding
Overjet
This results when the top teeth extend too far beyond the bottom horizontally. This condition is not considered an overbite; it can result in problems with normal eating and speech.
Overbite
This type of malocclusion occurs when the overlap of the lower front teeth extends beyond what is considered normal. If this type of problem is severe, it could cause the front teeth to hit the gums when a person bites their teeth together.
Crossbite
This occurs when the upper teeth bite down inside the lower teeth; it can occur on one or both sides of the jaw and can involve the anterior (front) or posterior (back) teeth.
Anterior Crossbite
This is also known as an underbite, this is a crossbite that impacts the front teeth.
Spacing
Open Bite
This occurs when the front teeth do not properly overlap the lower teeth (in the front, this is called anterior open bite).
In addition, the person’s tolerance of the patient to endure various treatment modalities (including procedures and therapies) are taken into account in addition to the patient’s or parent’s expectations.
Treatment for malocclusion is often done in phases.
For example, the initial phase may involve extractions to create more space, the second phase could include braces, and the final phase could involve a functional appliance to keep the teeth in place after treatment.
There are several different treatment modalities for malocclusion, depending on the type of malocclusion and the severity of the problem, these include:
A Word From Verywell
SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Stanford Children’s Health staff.Malocclusion.Stanfordchildrens.org.Total Orthodontics staff.Different Types of Crooked Teeth.totalorthodonics.co.uk.U.S. National Library of Medicine, Medline Plus staff.Malocclusion of Teeth.Medlineplus.gov.
Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Stanford Children’s Health staff.Malocclusion.Stanfordchildrens.org.Total Orthodontics staff.Different Types of Crooked Teeth.totalorthodonics.co.uk.U.S. National Library of Medicine, Medline Plus staff.Malocclusion of Teeth.Medlineplus.gov.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Stanford Children’s Health staff.Malocclusion.Stanfordchildrens.org.Total Orthodontics staff.Different Types of Crooked Teeth.totalorthodonics.co.uk.U.S. National Library of Medicine, Medline Plus staff.Malocclusion of Teeth.Medlineplus.gov.
Stanford Children’s Health staff.Malocclusion.Stanfordchildrens.org.
Total Orthodontics staff.Different Types of Crooked Teeth.totalorthodonics.co.uk.
U.S. National Library of Medicine, Medline Plus staff.Malocclusion of Teeth.Medlineplus.gov.
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