Malocclusion is a common dental issue that has impacted millions of people worldwide. There is a higher chance that a person will experience it unknowingly. However, there are multiple dental complications that you might go through due to severe malocclusions. In this blog, we will understand malocclusion, its causes, types, and treatment options that would help you align your bite.
What is Malocclusion?
Malocclusion is a dental term used for misalignment of teeth or issues related to the bite. It refers to a condition where your jaws do not come together perfectly, leading to an improper bite. Malocclusions must be treated as early as possible, or they will lead to further dental complications such as jaw pain, headache, etc.
Causes of Malocclusion
The following are the causes of malocclusion you need to know:
Genetics
Genetics plays a crucial role in causing malocclusion in a person. The inherited facial structure, jaw size, and the shape of teeth contribute to the development of misalignment of the smile.
Tooth Loss
Tooth loss is also one of the reasons you can experience malocclusion. Losing a tooth can misalign the pattern of your smile and deviate from the proper structure. The gap caused by tooth loss can impact the position of the surrounding teeth, disturbing their correct alignment.
Bruxism
Bruxism is a dental term that refers to teeth clenching or grinding. When a person goes through severe depression, anxiety, or stress, there are higher chances of going through bruxism.
If you keep on putting pressure on your teeth to grind and clench, the teeth might shift from their position. Not only this, but it can also damage or break the tooth, causing an asymmetrical bite structure.
Childhood Habits
Prolonged childhood habits such as thumb sucking are also a leading cause of malocclusion. This can deform the shape of your teeth, compromising your smile structure and alignment.
Jaw Size
Your teeth alignment majorly depends on your jaw size. It depends on the size of your teeth and how to accommodate or position them in the right way.
Types of Malocclusion
Malocclusions have hit the world by storm as studies by NIH suggest that the dental condition is prevalent in children and adolescents up to 93%. The following are some types of malocclusion you need to know:
Crowded Teeth
When your jaw is too small, it cannot accommodate your teeth. This is why your teeth might overlap each other, leading to a crowded teeth pattern. Your teeth can bend, twist, or overlap if they do not get enough space for them. This creates further complications, such as bacteria and plaque buildup due to the lack of proper cleaning of the smile.
Crossbite
When the upper teeth fit inside the lower teeth, the condition is termed a crossbite. This can further cause severe wear and tear of your teeth, leading to toothache.
Overbite
Overbite is referred to as misalignment where the upper jaw overlaps the lower jaw and teeth. A slight overbite is normal, but if the condition is prominent, you need to get it treated to avoid further dental issues.
Openbite
If your upper and lower jaws do not come together when they are shut, the situation is referred to as an open bite condition. In this condition, the front teeth are slanted outwards, which prevents them from meeting.
Symptoms and Effects of Malocclusion
The following are some of the reasons why you need to treat your malocclusion:
Difficulty in Chewing
A misaligned teeth pattern makes it harder for you to bite or chew the food. As your teeth do not come together in a perfectly aligned pattern, they might not chew the food properly, which can cause digestion problems.
Jaw Pain
The imperfect teeth positions put stress on the jaws, leading to severe jaw pain. This condition is also known as TMJ disorder, which impacts the temporomandibular joints. These are present on each side of your face, right in front of the ear. Misalignment offers extra stress on these jaw points, causing jaw pain.
Speech Complications
Misalignment of the teeth prevents the pronunciation of certain words. If you are a student or a working person, it might be difficult for you to communicate. Therefore, treat your misalignment and say goodbye to speech difficulty.
Aesthetic Concerns
The appearance of your smile and your facial features greatly depends on the alignment of your smile. If you have misaligned teeth, your smile might appear unattractive, and lose your confidence.
What are Some Options For Malocclusion treatments?
Now that we are aware of the causes, types, and disadvantages of malocclusion, it is time to understand the different ways to treat it. The following are some of them:
Metal Braces
Metal braces are one of the traditional ways to treat your misaligned smile. These are metal brackets glued to your teeth with metal wire. This treatment requires frequent dental visits to tighten the metal wires, which exert pressure on your teeth. The metal brackets and wires collectively work and bring your teeth to the desired position.
Metal braces are responsible for treating severe dental conditions. This treatment usually takes more than a year to offer complete results. Furthermore, you need to know that the metal brackets and wires might irritate your gums and the inside of the cheeks, leading to discomfort.
Clear Aligners
Clear aligners are a series of plastic dental trays that are customized according to the size of your smile. Unlike metal braces, they are invisible and offer a discreet appearance. Clear aligners are customized according to your smile which makes them comfortable.
East set of clear aligners is worn for 20 to 22 hours per day for almost 10 days. It puts gentle pressure on your teeth and is a less painful treatment as compared to metal braces. Clear aligners offer complete treatment in just 4 to 6 months without letting anybody know.
Teeth Straightening Surgery
Teeth straightening surgery, also known as orthognathic surgery, is a way to treat severe malocclusions by repositioning the jaw bone. This is one of the most expensive options you can get to treat your misalignment. It fixes skeleton deformities and aligns the jaw to bring them to the correct position. Teeth straightening surgery also enhances a person's facial features.
Treat Your Malocclusions With ALIGNERCO
Considering your demands, ALIGNERCO offers a convenient way to treat your smile. Our clear aligner treatment is the best alternative for traditional metal braces treatment. You can begin your smile treatment by ordering your clear aligners in the following way:
Step 1: Smile Impressions
The first step is to create your smile impressions. Order the ALIGNERCO at-home impression kit that comes with everything you need to create your impressions at home. It has a detailed guide that helps you with the procedure. Create your impressions at home and send them back to us.
Step 2: 3D Treatment Plan
Our team of experts will create a specialized treatment plan depending on your smile impressions. The plan will help you understand the after-results of the treatment. You can either accept it or mold it according to your preferences.
Step 3: Say Goodbye To Malocclusions
Once you accept the treatment plan, we will start manufacturing your clear aligners. Receive them at your doorstep, wear them according to your dentist’s recommendations, and align your smile.
To sum up, malocclusions are dental conditions that refer to bad bites or teeth misalignment. Severe malocclusions are responsible for causing toothache, jaw pain, and improper bite functions.
However, there are multiple ways you can treat your misalignments with the help of different methods such as clear aligners or metal braces. Considering your comfort and convenience, opt for clear aligners and align your smile within months.
FAQs
1.What are the symptoms of malocclusion?
When your jaws do not come together perfectly, it is a common symptom of malocclusion.
2. Can malocclusion be treated without braces?
Yes! If you want to treat malocclusion without metal braces, you can go through a clear aligner treatment.
3. How long does it take to correct malocclusion with clear aligners?
All-day clear aligners take 4 to 6 months to treat malocclusion, whereas nighttime aligners take 6 to 8 months.
4. What happens if malocclusion is left untreated?
If you leave your malocclusions untreated, they can lead to further complications such as biting and chewing difficulties and severe jaw pain.
5. Are clear aligners suitable for all types of malocclusion?
Clear aligners help treat all types of malocclusions; however, severe cases are only treated by traditional metal braces.
