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malocclusion | Wayne Family Orthodontics

Types of Malocclusion & the Solution

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Braces and other orthodontic treatments are used to treat malocclusion, which means having crooked teeth or a “poor bite.” One’s bite is the way the upper and lower teeth meet. Malocclusion is sometimes a cosmetic problem, but crooked teeth are also hard to care for properly. This can lead to tooth decay, or even tooth loss.

The most common kinds of malocclusion are:

Upper protrusion (overjet) – The upper front teeth are pushed forward. This can be caused by a small lower jaw or by thumb-sucking, which may cause the roof of the mouth to change shape. Upper protrusion is sometimes referred to as buck teeth or overjet.

Spacing or crowding problems – If a patient has too much or too little room in the mouth, spacing or crowding problems can occur. Crowding can keep the permanent teeth from coming in properly or at all.

Open bite – The upper and lower front teeth do not overlap, thus creating an opening straight into the mouth. An open bite can also be present on the side(s) of the mouth.

Overbite – If a patient has an excessive overbite, the upper front teeth sit too far over the lower front teeth. In extreme cases, this causes the lower teeth to bite into the roof of the mouth.

Underbite – The front lower teeth are in front of the front upper teeth.

Cross bite – A cross bite occurs when some or all of the upper teeth are on the wrong side of the lower teeth.

Rotated teeth – A tooth is turned or tipped.

For more information about malocclusion and to set up your next visit with our orthodontist, Dr. Muhammad Abey, feel free to call Wayne Family Orthodontics at 973-341-3180 today.

How Invisalign® Can Help

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Malocclusion is crooked teeth or a misaligned bite. If you have malocclusion, Dr. Muhammad Abey may recommend Invisalign® in Wayne, New Jersey, to help you reach a straight smile. Invisalign is a set of aligners that is designed specifically for your smile. They are worn over the teeth for 20 to 22 hours a day to gently straighten the smile. After treatment, you may notice certain positive changes in your life.

Better Oral Health
Inflamed gums can be the result of teeth that are too crowded or gapped. Unhealthy gums are a sign of gum disease. With straight teeth, the gums can fit more properly around the teeth.

Improved Oral Hygiene
Properly cleaning crooked teeth can be difficult. Missing plaque and food particles often happens when the teeth aren’t properly aligned. Properly aligned teeth are much easier to care for. In addition, cleaning your teeth is much easier with Invisalign than with braces, as Invisalign aligners are removable.

Better Overall Health
The teeth and mouth are the window to the health of your body. Some conditions in the mouth, like gum disease, are linked to conditions in the body. As a result, improved oral health leads to improved overall health. Straight teeth can also correct speech and chewing hardships, jaw issues, and eliminate unnatural wear on the tooth enamel.

To learn more and to schedule your next appointment with our orthodontist, please contact Wayne Family Orthodontics at 973-341-3180 today.

How to Care for Teeth with Braces

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Orthodontics is used to straighten the teeth and correct the bite. This can improve not only the appearance of your smile, but the health as well. Now that you are undergoing orthodontic treatment, there are some things you should know about caring for your teeth and braces.

Dental Hygiene with Braces
Dental hygiene is a little more complex while wearing braces. When flossing, work the short end of your floss through the space between the upper part of the tooth and the arch wire. Then use a sawing motion to gently work the floss between the teeth.

When brushing, use a soft-bristled brush. Brush both up from the bottom and down from the top of each tooth. After this, brush with a proxabrush, which is designed to clean between the brackets. Insert the brush both from the bottom up and from the top down between each bracket.

Avoid These Foods
While wearing braces, there are certain foods that you should avoid, as they can break or loosen the brackets. These include:

– Tough-to-bite or hard foods
– Chewy food
– Hard pretzels, carrots, nuts, and popcorn
– Corn on the cob

If you have any questions for Dr. Muhammad Abey and our team or if you would like to set up an appointment, feel free to contact Wayne Family Orthodontics at 973-341-3180 today. Our orthodontist and team in Wayne, New Jersey, are excited to get to know you.