Fixing Bites Woodbridge, VA

Correcting Overbites

Overbites also called deep bites, occur when the top teeth protrude over the bottom teeth. The American Dental Association (ADA) finds that protruding teeth are prone to accidental breaking and are hard to close comfortably. This can lead to dried-out oral tissues followed by tooth decay. Overbites often cause headaches and jaw joint pain and can lead to TMJ disorder and gum disease.

Neutrocclusion

A neutrocclusion refers to a normal bite with other abnormalities, such as overcrowded or crooked teeth. This is the most common type of malocclusion.

Distocclusion

A distocclusion is a malocclusion in which the lower jaw is in a distal or posterior position, the backside of teeth, in relation to the upper teeth.

Mesiocclusion

Mesiocclusion is a type of malocclusion that occurs when the mandibular, or lower front teeth, occlude mesially to the normal position of the top teeth.

Correcting Underbites

An underbite describes a malocclusion in which the bottom teeth overlap the top teeth. Underbites often cause eating, breathing, and speaking problems. Underbites can also cause chronic joint pain, headaches, earaches, cracked and worn teeth, tooth deterioration, bacterial infections, sleep apnea, and self-esteem problems. There are several underbite correction treatments, including:

• Braces: Gradual straightening of the teeth through metal or plastic appliances (the most common way to align a bite).
• Reverse-Pull Face Mask: A headgear that wraps around a child’s head and pulls the upper jaw back into the correct position using metal bands fastened to the upper back teeth; a chin cup typically helps keep the mask in place.
• Upper Jaw Expander: A wire-frame device that fits across the palate and expands each day to gradually widen the upper jaw until the lower teeth no longer close against the outside of the uppers.
• Tooth Extraction: Patients with too many lower teeth may need to extract the extra teeth. This can be a one-off procedure or done in conjunction with other methods.
• Surgery: Underbites due to the jaw sticking out much further than normal may require surgery.
• Cosmetic Approach: In mild cases, non-surgical cosmetic dentistry can reshape the lower teeth and then fit veneers to the uppers. Though it does not fix the underbite, it makes it less visible and sufficiently improves the jaw’s functionality.

There are two types of surgery for underbites including orthognathic jaw surgery and Le Fort III Osteotomy. Orthognathic jaw surgery is a procedure that involves moving the lower jawbone to fix a protruding jaw. The surgeon separates the bone in the jaw's rear part from the front part and then modifies it to enable the part of the jaw carrying the lower teeth to be repositioned further back.

The Le Fort III Osteotomy is a procedure performed to enhance a person's appearance and functionality when a person's face appears to have sunk above the lower jaw. The surgeon moves a person's entire face forward in this procedure.

Correcting Crossbites and Open bites

A crossbite is a type of malocclusion that describes when the lower teeth cover one or more upper teeth when a person bites and can occur in several places in the mouth. Crossbites can be classified as anterior and posterior. An anterior crossbite refers to the back bottom teeth covering the back top teeth, while a posterior crossbite refers to the front bottom teeth covering the front top teeth. Crossbites can be corrected through orthodontic treatment (braces or clear aligners), Rapid Palatal Expander (RPE), Reverse-Pull Headgear (Face mask), and jaw surgery.

An open bite, or overjet, refers to front upper and lower teeth that slant outward and do not touch when the mouth closes. Although open bites can be inherited, they are most often caused by behavioral influences, such as thumb and pacifier sucking, tongue thrusting when speaking, and temporomandibular joint disorder. Open bites can be corrected through altering behavior (in young children), orthodontic treatment (braces and clear aligners), and surgery.

Crowding and Spacing Issues

Overcrowding and spacing issues refer to teeth that are unevenly distributed and are either too close together or too far apart. Although teeth naturally shift, even with orthodontic treatment, there are non-genetic causes for overcrowding, such as early loss of primary teeth and non-erupting permanent teeth. When primary teeth do not come out when they are supposed to, permanent teeth often come in and cause crowding. Likewise, permanent teeth may not erupt properly due to retained primary teeth.

Crowding and spacing issues are most commonly treated through braces or clear aligners as they guide the teeth into proper placement. Other treatment options include veneers and dentofacial orthopedics, including headgears and palatal expanders. Dentofacial orthopedics help guide facial bone growth to properly align the teeth.