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Malocclusion is a very common dental problem that usually presents as misaligned or crooked teeth. While crooked teeth are not painful, they can result in difficulty maintaining oral hygiene, speech impediments, breathing issues, poor aesthetic appearance, etc. Given below is a brief overview of malocclusion, its treatment options, etc.
Malocclusion is a very common dental problem that usually presents as misaligned or crooked teeth. While crooked teeth are not painful, they can result ... Read More
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Malocclusion simply means misaligned teeth. Occlusion is the alignment of the upper and lower teeth in relation to each other. In addition to misaligned teeth, malocclusion can also occur if your upper and lower jaws aren’t aligned properly. It is usually hereditary or environmental, but in some cases, it can be caused due to poor oral health and hygiene habits.
Most people regard malocclusion as simply having crooked or misaligned front teeth, but there are different types of malocclusion that can affect a person’s life in many ways.
Malocclusion is easily visible and can often be self-diagnosed. If your teeth are misshapen, or misaligned, or if you can’t rest your jaws on top of each other with all occlusal teeth surfaces in contact, then it is a safe bet that you have a malocclusion.
Before drafting a treatment plan, your dentist will collect a comprehensive medical history and perform a thorough dental examination. They will ask for medical and family history, tobacco usage history, allergies, etc. Before dental examination for orthodontic treatment, they will clean and polish the teeth and gums, and then check them for any signs of dental caries, gum diseases, bone recession, etc. If there are any cavities, he will repair them and start medical treatment for gum disease.
Following the oral prophylaxis and dental examination, your dentist will prescribe some radiography tests for you to evaluate the quality, dentistry, and quantity of your jaw bone tissues. Common diagnostic tests performed for malocclusion treatment are:
Bitewing radiograph: A bitewing (BW) x-ray depicts the crowns of both maxillary and mandibular teeth and shows their occlusal relationship with each other on one side of the arch. They help diagnose interproximal caries and occlusal problems (like posterior crossbite, impacted tooth, etc.).
Panoramic radiograph: An OPG x-ray (orthopantomography or pantomogram) provides a panoramic or wide view of the lower face, including the teeth, TMJ, maxilla, and mandible. It helps view impacted teeth, jaw injuries or deformities, bone quality, etc.
Periapical radiograph: A periapical radiograph (IOPA x-ray) shows a single tooth and its periapical structures and is usually only done if the patient has pain in a tooth.
Occlusal X-ray: An occlusal X-ray provides the occlusal views of an entire arch to locate cleft palate, bone deformities, etc.
Lateral cephalogram: A lateral cephalogram provides a side view of the facial bones and teeth with accurate measurements to help draft the treatment plan.
It is localized malocclusion caused due to displaced, missing, abnormal, or impacted teeth. It usually presents with a normal molar relationship but localized misalignment like maxillary protrusion, overlapped or overcrowded teeth, rotated teeth, etc.
Class II malocclusion presents with proclined upper incisors, increased overjet, lip trap, and retrognathic mandible.
Class III malocclusion is identified by a small or retropositioned maxilla and a large or forward-positioned mandible. It presents with the angle’s Class III molar relationship, i.e., forward-placed molars, lingually inclined lower incisors, and anterior or posterior crossbite.
While malocclusion itself is not painful, it can lead to other tooth and bone issues, leading to discomfort in a roundabout way. Some of the complications of malocclusion are:
You can follow the given tips to prevent malocclusion:
You can get orthodontic treatment at any stage of life, but generally, the earlier it is, the easier it becomes to adjust and correct tooth positioning. The best age for orthodontic treatment is 10-14 years old, as during this time, the jaw is still developing, and teeth are still erupting. You should contact a dentist or orthodontist if you have:
The best option for long-term correction of malocclusion is through orthodontic treatment or dental braces. In conjunction with braces, if the patient has a severely retrognathic or prognathic jaw, they may also need jaw augmentation surgery. The cost of dental braces treatment for you depends on the following factors:
Consult the best orthodontists near you to get a better estimate of the cost and duration of your treatment.
Since orthodontic treatments like dental braces are largely aesthetic in nature and are availed by patients for better aesthetic appearance, they are classified as elective treatments. Some insurance might cover you if you’ve had an accident and are getting orthodontic treatment to mitigate the damage to your teeth. Some health insurance plans also cover dental braces for children under the age of 18. However, you need to discuss this thoroughly with your insurance provider before beginning your treatment.
No, teeth are generally not trimmed during orthodontic treatment, as braces are placed on top of the dental surface. Instead of trimming, dental spacers are used to create space between the teeth and in severe cases of overcrowding, tooth extraction may also be performed.
You should start getting orthodontic consultations for your children as soon as they turn 6 months old and get tooth spacers or oral habit-breaking appliances, as necessary, but you do not need to get orthodontic treatment for your child’s milk teeth.
Yes, if you get braces, you need to brush your teeth after every meal or snack. Additionally, you should also keep a mouthwash and properly rinse your mouth every time you eat or drink something.
On average, patients are advised to wear their retainers for at least 12-14 months after the treatment, out of which they have to wear retainers full-time for the first 4-6 months.
Orthodontic extraction, i.e., dental extraction for orthodontic treatments, is performed if the patient has overcrowding and the dentist needs extra space to properly align the teeth.
Yes, often our facial shape can be asymmetrical due to misaligned teeth and dental braces can increase facial symmetry by correcting dental malocclusion.
There are several other treatments like dental capping, veneers, composite bonding, etc., that can help close small gaps between teeth, but for considerable spaces, braces are the best treatment.
