What is Malocclusion and How it Affects Your Oral Health

Posted on 4/26/2021 by Alyce

When you chew or bite into food, your upper and lower jaw come together to perform a function. The American Dental Association calls this functional contact between the two sets of teeth Occlusion. Malocclusion or improper occlusion is when the lower incisors' position is slightly out of line from that of the upper anterior incisors, indicative of a misaligned or dysfunctional contact of the upper and lower jaw.

Types of Malocclusion

There are two main types of Malocclusions classified as Class II Malocclusion and Class III Malocclusion.

In a Class II Malocclusion, your lower incisors are significantly behind your upper incisors. The condition is also known as an overbite, as here, your incisors end up hitting your gum.

In a Class III Malocclusion or a crossbite is when the lower incisors are either just in line with your upper incisors or slightly ahead.

Malocclusion and Oral Health

As mentioned earlier, there is a substantial amount of force generated during occlusion. A total of five muscles work together to make the movement possible. A misalignment means the force is applied to the wrong part of the oral structure. In fact, it can potentially lead to the uneven wear of your teeth, can damage your bones and ligaments in the future, and exert undue pressure on the neck, leading to headaches, among other issues.

•	Temporomandibular Joint Disorder
•	Chronic headaches
•	Tooth wear
•	Muscle pain
•	Tooth loss
•	Tooth sensitivity

Malocclusion Treatment

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You will need a detailed examination of your oral structure to determine whether malocclusion is damaging your teeth, resulting in failed restorative procedures, among other issues. They will do so with the help of X-rays, and CT scans of your dental structure, including your temporomandibular joint.

The material will help determine what is wrong with your dental structure, based on which you will get your treatment. Treatment can include the restoration of your teeth, dental bonding, and fixing some of your teeth' alignment. In some cases, you may even need to get surgery to correct the alignment of your jaw.

If you fear you have malocclusion, visit Timothy H. Kindt, DDS for a consultation today.

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