Crowding:
Teeth may be crooked because the jaw is small and/or the teeth are large. The bone and gums over the roots of extremely crowded teeth may become thin and receded as a result of severe crowding. Impacted teeth (teeth that should have grown into the mouth), poor biting relationships and undesirable appearance can result from crowding.

Protruding upper teeth:
Upper front teeth that protrude beyond normal contact with the lower teeth are prone to injury, often indicate a poor bite of the back teeth, and may indicate improper jaw growth. Commonly, protruded upper teeth are associated with a lower jaw that is shorter than the upper jaw. Thumb and finger sucking habits can also cause protrusion of the upper front teeth.

Overbite:
The upper front teeth overlap the lower front teeth excessively. When this happens, the lower front teeth will bite too close or into the gum tissue behind the upper front teeth. Significant gum damage and discomfort will occur. Overbite can also contribute to wear on the edges of the lower front teeth due to excessive biting force in that area.

Open bite:
An open bite is exhibited when the upper and lower front teeth do not touch when biting together. This open space between the upper and lower front teeth causes all of 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 and jaw problems.

Spacing:
If the teeth are missing or small, or the jaws are very wide, spacing between the teeth can occur. Space between the teeth may trap food and its appearance may be undesirable.

Crossbite:
This is exhibited when the upper teeth bite inside of the lower teeth (toward the tongue). The jaws do not fit together in a proper relation. Crossbites of the back and/or front teeth are best corrected early due to biting difficulties and growth problems of the jaws.

Underbite and 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 (crossbite). Early treatment of growth problems is indicated for these patients to correct a problem that may only be corrected at a later date with jaw surgery.

For more information or to schedule a free consult with Dr. Gluck, call us at (770) 664-6003.