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Common Orthodontic Problems and Solutions
Orthodontic treatment is commonly used to correct various issues with tooth alignment and jaw position. Here are some of the most common orthodontic problems and how they can be resolved.
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Crooked Teeth
Crooked or crowded teeth are one of the main reasons people seek orthodontic treatment. Crooked teeth can be caused by:
- Jaw misalignment
- Extra teeth
- Abnormally shaped teeth
- Thumb sucking
Treatment options include:
- Braces - Apply pressure to slowly move teeth into proper alignment
- Clear aligners like Invisalign - Gradual tooth movement using a series of clear, removable aligners
- Extraction - Removing extra teeth to create space
Overbite/Underbite
Overbite is when upper teeth excessively overlap lower teeth. Underbite is the opposite - lower teeth extend outward beyond the upper teeth.
Causes include jaw alignment issues, thumb sucking, tongue thrusting. Treatment options:
- Braces + elastics to reposition jaw/teeth
- Clear aligners + elastics
- Headgear to control jaw growth
- In severe cases, jaw surgery
Crowding
Crowding occurs when there is insufficient space in the jaw for all the teeth to properly emerge and align. This can cause teeth to twist or overlap.
Causes include:
- Jaw is too small
- Extra teeth
- Abnormally shaped teeth
Treatments:
- Extraction of teeth to create space
- Braces to align and straighten teeth
- Clear aligners like Invisalign
- Dental implants if teeth were extracted
Spacing Between Teeth
Gaps or spaces between teeth can occur due to:
- Missing teeth
- Small teeth
- Jaw misalignment
- Thumb sucking
Treatment options:
- Braces bring teeth together
- Clear aligners like Invisalign close gaps
- Dental implants or bridges to replace missing teeth
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Jaw Misalignment
When the upper and lower jaws are misaligned it can affect bite and cause problems like overbite, crossbite, open bite, underbite. This is often hereditary.
Treatments include:
- Braces + elastics
- Clear aligners + elastics
- Headgear therapy
- In complex cases, orthognathic surgery
Overbite and Underbite Orthodontic Problems
Overbite and underbite are two common orthodontic issues that affect the alignment between the upper and lower jaws. Here is an overview of their causes, effects, and treatment options.
What is Overbite?
Overbite is when the upper front teeth excessively overlap the lower front teeth vertically. This is also referred to as a deep bite. Ideally, the upper teeth should slightly cover the lower teeth by 1-2mm.
Causes of overbite include:
- Genetics
- Oral habits like thumb sucking
- Abnormally positioned or shaped teeth
- Jaw growth abnormalities
Effects of overbite:
- Excessive wear of the lower teeth
- Difficulty biting into foods
- Damage to the roof of the mouth
- Jaw pain
What is Underbite?
Underbite is when the lower front teeth are positioned outward, beyond the upper front teeth. This causes a misalignment between the upper and lower jaws.
Causes include:
- Genetics
- Undergrown upper jaw
- Overgrown lower jaw
- Oral habits like tongue thrusting
Effects of underbite:
- Trouble chewing food
- Speech difficulties
- Jaw pain
- Teeth wear issues
Treating Overbite and Underbite
Treatment options for overbite and underbite include:
- Braces - Apply pressure to reposition teeth and jaws
- Clear aligners like Invisalign
- Headgear to guide jaw growth
- Elastics to move the jaw
- In severe cases, jaw surgery to reposition the bones
Early intervention while jaw bones are still growing gives the best results. Adults can also benefit from orthodontic treatments.
With a combination of appliances like braces, aligners and elastics, most overbites and underbites can be corrected non-surgically. Severe skeletal discrepancies may require jaw surgery to realign the bite and improve function.
Consulting an orthodontist for an evaluation is important to determine the suitable treatment options based on the cause and severity of the overbite or underbite.
Spacing Between Teeth - Causes and Treatment
Excessive gaps or spaces between teeth can occur for various reasons. Here is an overview of what causes space between teeth and how orthodontic treatment can help close gaps.
Causes of Gaps Between Teeth
Common causes of gaps between teeth include:
- Missing teeth - Lost teeth due to injury, tooth decay or gum disease can cause adjacent teeth to drift resulting in gaps.
- Small teeth - Having naturally smaller teeth can result in gaps between them.
- Jaw misalignment - Improper alignment between the upper and lower jaws can cause gaps between teeth.
- Oral habits like thumb sucking - This can exert pressure on teeth and push them outward creating gaps.
Other factors like genetics, abnormal tooth position and improper tooth restoration can also cause space between teeth.
Effects of Gapped Teeth
Having gaps between teeth can cause several problems such as:
- Periodontal disease - Food particles easily get lodged in the gaps allowing plaque buildup and bacteria growth.
- Speech difficulties - Gaps can interfere with proper pronunciation of words.
- TMJ/bite issues - Misaligned teeth and jaws cause imbalance in bite and jaw function.
- Low self-esteem - Spaces between teeth often lead to reluctance to smile.
Treatment Options
Several treatment options can help close the gaps between teeth:
- Braces/Clear aligners - Apply pressure to move teeth closer together gradually. Requires wearing the appliance for several months. More effective when done at a young age when bone is more pliable.
- Dental bonding - Tooth-colored resin material is applied to fill in the gaps and shaped to the natural tooth contour. A quick way to achieve a uniform smile but needs replacement periodically.
- Dental implants/bridges - Artificial teeth are fused to the jawbone or supported by crowns on adjacent teeth to replace missing teeth and close gaps.
- Restorations - Fillings, crowns, veneers can rebuild worn, broken or misshapen teeth to close spaces.
Choosing the Right Treatment
An orthodontist will be able to recommend the most suitable treatment after examining the mouth, taking x-rays and considering factors like:
- Cause and location of the spaces
- Amount of space to be closed
- Condition of existing teeth
- Jaw alignment
- Age and growth status
Minor gaps may only require dental bonding or restorations. Major spacing issues benefit more from braces or clear aligners for longer lasting results. Implants, bridges or a combination of treatments may be needed in case of missing teeth.
Jaw Misalignment - Causes, Effects and Treatment
Jaw misalignment refers to an improper bite relationship between the upper and lower jaws. This occurs when the jaws are out of alignment causing the teeth to not fit together properly.
Causes of Jaw Misalignment
Jaw misalignment can be caused by various factors:
- Genetics - Inherited facial and jaw bone structure
- Size disproportion - Upper jaw too big or lower jaw too small
- Injury - Trauma to the jaws or face
- Oral habits - Thumb sucking, tongue thrusting
- Loss of teeth - Shifts alignment as other teeth drift
Types of Jaw Misalignment
Common types of malocclusion or jaw misalignment include:
- Underbite - Lower jaw extends outward beyond upper teeth
- Overbite - Upper teeth excessively overlap lower teeth
- Open bite - Front and side teeth do not overlap properly
- Crossbite - Upper and lower teeth are abnormally angled
Effects of Jaw Misalignment
Problems associated with jaw misalignment include:
- Abnormal tooth wear
- Chewing and biting difficulties
- Excessive strain on jaw muscles
- Speech impairment
- Gum diseases
- Jaw joint pain
Treating Jaw Misalignment
Treatment options for jaw misalignment:
- Braces - Slowly move teeth and jaws into proper position
- Clear aligners like Invisalign
- Headgear to guide jaw growth in children
- Elastics to reposition the jaws
- In severe cases, orthognathic surgery to realign jaws
The age of the patient, severity and nature of the misalignment influences the treatment approach. Combining appliances provides better outcomes in complicated cases.
Early intervention when jaw bones are still developing yields faster and better results. But adults can also benefit from orthodontic correction of jaw misalignment.
Must-Have Orthodontic Products
Orthodontic treatment involves using various appliances and products to help move teeth and jaws into proper alignment. Here are some must-have orthodontic products.
Dental Braces
Braces apply gentle pressure to teeth to correct their position over time. Types of braces:
- Metal braces - Most common type, made of high grade stainless steel.
- Ceramic braces - More esthetic, blend in with teeth. But can stain.
- Lingual braces - Affixed to the back of teeth making them invisible.
Clear Aligners
Clear plastic trays that fit over teeth and are changed periodically to gradually move teeth. Popular options:
- Invisalign - Most well-known aligner brand, custom-made for each patient.
- ClearCorrect - Comfortable, removable clear aligners.
- SmileDirectClub - Affordable aligners but no in-person orthodontist.
Retainers
Worn after braces or aligners to hold teeth in corrected position. Types include:
- Plastic retainers - Removable, wear nightly after treatment.
- Permanent retainers - Fixed wire bonded behind front teeth.
Headgear
Appliance worn outside the mouth to guide jaw and teeth position. Used to correct bite issues like overbite.
Rubber Bands
Elastics that connect parts of braces to exert force on teeth/jaws. Wearing rubber bands applies tension to encourage proper alignment.
Orthodontic Wax
Applied on areas where braces may be irritating the mouth. Used to minimize discomfort from brace brackets and wires.
Dental Implants
Artificial titanium roots used to replace missing teeth which can be impacted by orthodontics. Restores space and prevents movement of other teeth.
With advances in technology, more esthetic and comfortable orthodontic products continue to emerge. But classic appliances like metal braces remain the most effective and precision solution for complex cases.
The orthodontist selects suitable products based on factors like patient compliance, treatment complexity, and costs. Using the right combination of orthodontic appliances leads to successful outcomes.
3M Orthodontics
3M Orthodontics offers a wide range of products and solutions designed to shorten the treatment process, increase patient satisfaction, and improve efficiency for orthodontic professionals. The Orthodontic Product Catalog provides detailed product descriptions and potential allergens in the product safety information. The catalog includes a full solution of premium brackets, adhesives, instruments, and complementary products. 3M Archwires are malleable and conform to the dental arch, and are used with dental braces as a source of force in correcting irregularities in the teeth. 3M Orthodontic Supplies include arch symmetry aids, band organizers, and orthodontic waxes. 3M products are trusted by orthodontists and provide a choice and control to deliver results for patients and practices. 3M also offers extensive training led by renowned subject matter experts, and free continuing education credits through live and on-demand webinars, self-study courses, and more.
3M Orthodontics Customer Service
3M Orthodontics provides customer and product support through various channels. Customers can call the Sales and Technical Support number at 800-423-4588 for assistance. Alternatively, customers can send an email message through the Contact Us form on the 3M Orthodontics website. Most messages are answered within two business days or less, but some replies may require further investigation or clarification. Customers can also contact 3M Dental Customer Care at 1-800-634-2249. 3M takes customer privacy seriously and only uses the information provided to respond to messages. The company's Privacy Policy describes how personal information may be used and stored on a server located in the U.S..
