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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.
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