Teeth come in all shapes and sizes, from baby teeth to adult teeth and from canines to molars. With all those teeth come a lot of ways for them to be misaligned. Some misalignments are minor and do not cause problems. Others are more severe and require correction. The health of your teeth can affect your overall physical health, so it’s important to take care of them. Here are seven common types of misalignments and how you can have them corrected.
Overbite
In an overbite, the upper teeth extend too far past the lower teeth. This can be caused by your upper or lower jaw being mispositioned, which is called a skeletal misalignment. Overbites can also be caused by your teeth coming out of your gums at an angle, which is called a dental misalignment. Dental misalignments are much easier to correct, and aligners will often fix the problem well.
Underbite
The reverse of an overbite is an underbite. In this misalignment, the lower teeth extend past the upper teeth. In a correct bite, the lower teeth should instead sit just behind the upper teeth. Just like with overbites, an underbite can be caused by either a jaw malformation or a dental misalignment. Also like overbites, dental underbites can often be corrected through the use of aligners.
Crossbite
Another type of misalignment is a crossbite. This is where the upper teeth fit behind the lower teeth. It can be just one or two teeth that do this, or it can be the entire upper set. This is a particularly serious misalignment in children, as it can cause lifelong dental problems if not corrected properly. The good news is that this malformation can be corrected through orthodontics, including the use of aligners.
Open Bite
An open bite occurs when either your front or your back teeth don’t touch when you close your mouth. All of your teeth should fit together nicely when you close, so having an opening in either the front or back can be a problem. Aligners are able to fix this problem just as well as traditional braces without the pain of wires.
Deep Bite
A fifth type of misalignment is a deep bite. In this situation, your front teeth cover your lower teeth. This isn’t as pronounced as an overbite, but it can look similar. Aligners can often correct this problem but may need extra modifications such as bite ramps in order to be fully effective.
Crowding
Crowding is a common problem in misaligned teeth. In this situation, your teeth crowd together in your mouth. That can cause teeth to come in at or fall into odd angles. Crowding can be caused by having too small of a jaw or having teeth positioned incorrectly in your gums. Aligners can correct this type of spacing issue, although surgery may be required to remove teeth if you have a jaw size issue.
Spacing
The final misalignment on the list is the reverse of crowding. Spacing misalignments present with gaps between teeth. These can be throughout your mouth, or may only be in one or two spots. Closing those gaps and aligning your teeth properly can be done through the use of aligners. In extreme cases, such as where a tooth is missing entirely, dental implants can be used.
Traditional orthodontics can fix all of the misalignments listed above, but that process can require painful metal braces. Clear aligners can not only deliver the same results but can do it with fewer appointments and more privacy. Consider exploring this option if you have been looking to improve the look of your teeth.
