Monday, October 18, 2010

What is malocclusion?

Malocclusion is also known as a bad bite. It is a condition in which a persons teeth are out of alignment, crooked or crowded.

There are generally two types of malocclusion.

Dental malocclusion: This is when the teeth are not lined up properly; even the jaw may be aligned. Tooth crowding causes this type of occlusion.

Skeletal malocclusion: A skeletal malocclusion occurs when the upper and lower jaws don't line up correctly. This type of malocclusion can be classed as an overbite or an underbite.

Normally malocclusion starts to appear between the ages of six and twelve when permanent teeth are coming in. A bad bite can also be the result of many things such as:

Thumbsucking
Tongue thrusting (pushing your tongue against your teeth)
Fingernail biting
Mouth breathing: Breathing primarily through your mouth instead of your nose.

No comments: