Very few people are born with a perfect smile, some may have teeth that are crooked, sticking out, or unevenly spaced. This leads to what is referred to in orthodontics as a bad “bite”, also known as a malocclusion, which is the way the upper and lower teeth come together.

Bite problems are very common amongst adults and children. Fortunately, orthodontic treatment can correct these bite problems to give you an aesthetic and healthy smile you’d be proud to show off. At Beach Braces, we offer a variety of orthodontic treatment options that will give you the smile of dreams by correcting several common bite problems we’ve highlighted below.

Common Bite Problems

While each smile is unique, there are 6 common bite problems that orthodontists typically see at their practice:

• Crossbite
• Overbite
• Open Bite
• Crowding
• Spacing
• Protrusion

Crossbite

A crossbite occurs when the upper teeth fit inside of the lower teeth. When a crossbite affects the front teeth it is colloquially called an ‘underbite’. Underbites are typically caused by a mismatch in the sizes of the upper and lower jaw, or by inappropriate tilting forward or backward of the teeth. If left untreated, underbites could lead to increased wear of tooth enamel caused by teeth grinding, headaches, and excessive stress placed on the jaw.

Overbite

An overbite, also known as a “deep bite”, occurs when the upper front teeth overlap and cover the bottom front teeth when the mouth is closed. A deep overbite can cause oral pain if the lower front teeth start impinging into the gum tissue behind the upper front teeth. .

Open Bite

An open bite occurs when the upper and lower front teeth do not overlap, causing an opening or space between them (the opposite of ‘overbite’). Open bites are commonly caused by habits, such as excessive thumbsucking or pacifier use as a child, or by habitually keeping the tongue between the teeth for most of the day. 

Crowding

Crowding occurs when the teeth do not have enough space in the jaw bone (big teeth in a small jaw). Crowded teeth are much more difficult to clean due to overlapping of the surfaces of the teeth. This can lead to increased risk of developing cavities and periodontal disease.

Spacing

Spacing occurs when there is too much space between the teeth. This is caused by a discrepancy in teeth size and jaw size (small teeth, in a large jaw). This generally creates an aesthetic problem for most patients.

Protrusion

Protrusion occurs when the upper jaw is too far forward and the lower jaw is too far back, creating a buck tooth appearance where the front top teeth stick out. Protrusion can cause many issues if left untreated, such as difficulty closing the mouth and lips, and dry mouth leading to tooth decay. Increased protrusion of the upper teeth also makes them more prone to breaking.

Start Your Smile Journey With Beach Braces Today! 

If you’re feeling self-conscious about your smile, Dr. Daskalogiannakis and the rest of our team at Beach Braces in Scarborough can help transform your smile! Contact our team today to schedule an appointment! We’d be happy to discuss our orthodontic treatment options with you, including Invisalign, self-ligating braces and much more!