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Malocclusion Malocclusion means "bad bite." It’s when
upper and lower teeth are not meeting correctly, or when teeth and
jaws are not positioned for good dental health. This condition
affects jaw growth, speech development, facial appearance, gum
tissue health and the ability to clean teeth properly. What causes
this condition? Many malocclusions are inherited. This includes
crowding of teeth, too much space between teeth, extra or missing
teeth, or irregularities in the jaws, face and teeth. Malocclusions
can also be environmental in nature, caused by accidents, thumb
sucking or sucking on a pacifier, obstruction by tonsils and
adenoids, dental disease, or premature loss of primary (baby)
teeth. Why is treatment important? If treatment is delayed or not
taken, many problems get worse and more complicated (and expensive)
to remedy. Malocclusion can cause excessive wear of tooth enamel,
poor chewing, stress on both the gums and jawbone which support the
teeth, chronic headaches, and facial and neck pains. Correcting the
malocclusion can improve overall oral health and eliminate other
potential problems. Does the treatment involve removal of some
teeth? Sometimes when permanent teeth are crowded and their spacing
and proper positioning is being affected by the primary teeth,
removing primary (baby) teeth is necessary. Otherwise, the severely
crowded permanent teeth will either remain "stuck"
(impacted) and unable to erupt, or they will erupt in an
undesirable position. Treatment of a malocclusion involves a
thorough evaluation of your child’s specific condition by a dentist
and/or orthodontist. This may include recommendations for removal
of some primary or permanent teeth because some malocclusions
cannot be treated successfully without doing so. Extraction of some
teeth in severely crowded conditions enhances proper alignment,
function and appearance, too. How is a diagnosis of a malocclusion
performed? Each child’s specific condition dictates the diagnostic
procedures, but they often include several or all of the following:
· Clinical exam · Medical and dental history · Impressions of the
teeth for making plaster models · Photographs of the face and teeth
to provide a record of the child’s facial appearance prior to
treatment · Panoramic X-rays showing all the upper and lower teeth
in biting position, and teeth that are not yet visible · Lateral
(cephalometric) X-ray of the entire head showing the relationship
of the teeth and jaws to the face and skull How long does treatment
take? Each condition is unique and must be treated individually.
The actual time is dependent on the growth of the child’s mouth and
face, the severity of the problem and the cooperation of the child
in following instructions. Mild correction problems or early
treatment may take only a few months. Treatment for more complex
malocclusions range from one to three years. An attractive smile,
proper alignment, and healthy teeth are valuable rewards gained
from a custom-designed treatment program made for smile after
smile!
Malocclusion
Malocclusion means "bad bite." It’s
when upper and lower teeth are not meeting correctly, or when teeth
and jaws are not positioned for good dental health. This condition
affects jaw growth, speech development, facial appearance, gum
tissue health and the ability to clean teeth properly.
What causes this condition?
Many malocclusions are inherited. This
includes crowding of teeth, too much space between teeth, extra or
missing teeth, or irregularities in the jaws, face and teeth.
Malocclusions can also be environmental in
nature, caused by accidents, thumb sucking or sucking on a
pacifier, obstruction by tonsils and adenoids, dental disease, or
premature loss of primary (baby) teeth.
Why is treatment important?
If treatment is delayed or not taken, many
problems get worse and more complicated (and expensive) to remedy.
Malocclusion can cause excessive wear of tooth enamel, poor
chewing, stress on both the gums and jawbone which support the
teeth, chronic headaches, and facial and neck pains. Correcting the
malocclusion can improve overall oral health and eliminate other
potential problems.
Does the treatment involve removal of some
teeth?
Sometimes when permanent teeth are crowded and
their spacing and proper positioning is being affected by the
primary teeth, removing primary (baby) teeth is necessary.
Otherwise, the severely crowded permanent teeth
will either remain "stuck"
(impacted) and unable to erupt, or they will erupt in an
undesirable position.
Treatment of a malocclusion involves a
thorough evaluation of your child’s specific condition by a dentist
and/or orthodontist. This may include recommendations for removal
of some primary or permanent teeth because some malocclusions
cannot be treated successfully without doing so. Extraction of some
teeth in severely crowded conditions enhances proper alignment,
function and appearance, too.
How is a diagnosis of a malocclusion performed?
Each child’s specific condition dictates the
diagnostic procedures, but they often include several or all of the
following:
·
Clinical exam
·
Medical and dental history
·
Impressions of the teeth for making plaster models
·
Photographs of the face and teeth to provide a record of the
child’s facial appearance prior to treatment
·
Panoramic X-rays showing all the upper and lower teeth in biting
position, and teeth that are not yet visible
·
Lateral (cephalometric) X-ray of the entire head showing the
relationship of the teeth and jaws to the face and skull
How long does treatment take?
Each condition is unique and must be treated
individually. The actual time is dependent on the growth of the
child’s mouth and face, the severity of the problem and the
cooperation of the child in following instructions. Mild correction
problems or early treatment may take only a few months. Treatment
for more complex malocclusions range from one to three years.
An attractive smile, proper alignment, and
healthy teeth are valuable rewards gained from a custom-designed
treatment program made for smile after smile!
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