Common Orthodontic Issues
Orthodontics Guided by Growth, Not Surgery
Dr. Bruce, Dr. Rick, Dr. Aaron and Dr. Chris treat many complex cases that were deemed ‘untreatable’ by other practices, and we do it through a comprehensive treatment plan that takes all details of your smile, bite and bone structure into account.
If addressed at the right time in early childhood, we can treat most cases with Damon™ braces, Invisalign® and/or a specialized orthodontic appliance — and we do it without headgear, without extracting healthy teeth in most cases, and without seeing surgery as a first resort.
Crowded Teeth
Teeth that are overlapping are considered ‘crowded’. More often than not, crowding is the result of insufficient room in the mouth. When the jaws aren’t wide enough to fit all teeth, teeth start overlapping each other as they’re emerging.
In some cases, crowded teeth can be treated with a palatal expander appliance during childhood, while the jaws are still developing. In severe cases of crowding, your Molen orthodontist will discuss the best treatment route with you.
Spacing Issues
It’s normal to have some spaces between primary teeth. However, significant gaps or spaces in children, teens or adults may result from having excess room in the jaws, congenitally missing teeth (missing certain teeth at birth), cavities or trauma, or certain childhood habits (like thumbsucking).
Underbite (Malocclusion)
Overbite (Malocclusion)
When the upper jaw extends further than the lower jaw, this is called an overbite. Depending on how severe the condition is, an overbite can cause jaw pain, difficulty eating and chewing, and speech issues. In some cases, the lower teeth will meet the roof of the mouth – ouch!
Crossbite (Malocclusion)
When the upper teeth are positioned inside the lower teeth, this is called a crossbite. This may be a posterior crossbite (in the back of the mouth) or an anterior crossbite (toward the front of the mouth).
Crossbites can affect individual teeth or multiple teeth in a row. This condition may result from irregular tooth eruption, late loss of baby teeth, or thumbsucking during childhood. It can also occur due to a mismatch in the size of the upper and lower jaws.
Open Bite (Malocclusion)
If some of the top teeth don’t meet the bottom teeth when the mouth is closed, this is called an open bite. (With a healthy alignment, the top teeth overlap the bottom teeth slightly.)
An open bite may be the result of skeletal development problems and/or childhood habits, like thumbsucking and tongue-thrusting. It can be extremely challenging to chew food properly and pronounce certain words with an open bite, and the facial structure is typically affected by this condition.
Protrusion (Malocclusion)
A protrusion, also known as an overjet condition, occurs when the front teeth protrude outward. Commonly called “buck teeth”, an overjet generally results from underdeveloped jaw bones, thumbsucking or prolonged pacifier use.
Like most other conditions, early orthodontic treatment is an especially effective and efficient treatment option for protrusions.
