Ideal
|
Ideal:
When all the teeth fit properly together they produce a beautiful
smile. |
Underbite
|
Underbite
or lower jaw protrusion: About 3 to 5 percent of the population
has a lower jaw that is to some degree longer than the upper
jaw. This can cause the lower front teeth to protrude ahead
of the upper front teeth creating a crossbite. Careful monitoring
of jaw growth and tooth development is indicated for these patients. |
Crossbite
|
Crossbite:
The most common type of a crossbite is when the upper teeth
bite inside the lower teeth (toward the tongue). Crossbites
of both back teeth and front teeth are commonly corrected early
due to biting and chewing difficulties. |
Crowding
|
Crowding:
Teeth may be aligned poorly because the dental arch is small
and/or the teeth are large. The bone and gums over the roots
of extremely crowded teeth may become thin and recede as a result
of severe crowding. Impacted teeth (teeth that should have come
in, but have not), poor biting relationships and undesirable
appearance may all result from crowding. |
Deep
Overbite
|
Deep
overbite: A deep overbite or deep bite occurs when the lower
incisor (front) teeth bite too close or into the gum tissue
behind the upper teeth. When the lower front teeth bite into
the palate or gum tissue behind the upper front teeth, significant
bone damage and discomfort can occur. A deep bite can also contribute
to excessive wear of the incisor teeth. |
Open
Bite
|
Open
bite: An open bite results when the upper and lower incisor
teeth do not touch when biting down. This open space between
the upper and lower front teeth causes all the chewing pressure
to be placed on the back teeth. This excessive biting pressure
and rubbing together of the back teeth makes chewing less efficient
and may contribute to significant tooth wear. |
Overjet
|
Overjet
or protruding upper teeth: Upper front teeth that protrude
beyond normal contact with the lower front teeth are prone to
injury, often indicate a poor bite of the back teeth (molars),
and may indicate an unevenness in jaw growth. Commonly, protruded
upper teeth are associated with a lower jaw that is short in
proportion to the upper jaw. Thumb and finger sucking habits
can also cause a protrusion of the upper incisor teeth. |
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