Malocclusion is dental-speak for crooked teeth. When you look at all the different ways numerous 3-dimensional objects can be arranged, it is not surprising that malocclusion occurs in numerous forms. The good news is that crooked teeth can be straightened with braces from Town Dental Group in Mint Hill.

The number of configurations may surprise you:

When teeth slant forward, it is called upper protrusion, but you may have heard this impairment by the insensitive slang, “buck teeth.”

An overbite transpires when the upper front teeth come down too far over the lower teeth when the mouth is closed. An underbite is the reverse condition—the upper front teeth close farther back than the lower front teeth. An open bite refers to a bite in which the upper don’t overlap the lower teeth. This can happen on the whole bite or just one side.

Tooth rotation is one of the most frequent types of malocclusion. Rotated teeth appear as if they are twisting out of place. Tooth rotation can create the illusion of uneven coloring because of the way light reflects off the face of teeth.

When the upper and lower palate are misaligned to the point where the upper teeth close onto the wrong side of the lower teeth, it is termed a cross bite.

In some rare cases – called transposition – teeth erupt in spots where other teeth should be. For example, a canine (pointed tooth) comes in where an incisor (front biting tooth) should be. Can you imagine trying to chew if your teeth have been playing musical chairs?

Many people with crooked teeth are too self-conscious to smile, but aesthetics are not the only issue at play. Crooked teeth can increase the risk of cavities, tooth damage, and TMD temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder. Youngsters with crooked teeth may have difficulty learning how to speak, and if they can’t chew meat and raw vegetables correctly, they may miss out on required nutrients due to a limited diet.

If you or your child has crooked teeth or a misaligned bite, we invite you to schedule an intensive examination right away. Town Dental Group in Mint Hill provides traditional metal braces, and less intrusive clear braces from Invisalign. Find out which are best for you.