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overbite | Wayne Family Orthodontics

Types of Malocclusion & the Solution

By | Malocclusion | No Comments

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.

The Purpose of Braces

By | Braces | No Comments

It’s not uncommon for someone in early to mid-adolescence to need braces. In fact, there are several different reasons why Dr. Muhammad Abey might recommend that your son or daughter be fitted for a set of braces.

As your child’s 20 primary teeth fall out to give way for their 32 permanent teeth, there can often be issues related to alignment or overcrowding. Sometimes this is more likely if when your son or daughter was young and a fractured or severely decayed primary tooth needed to be extracted. Sometimes alignment issues can be set in motion years earlier due to thumb sucking or overuse of a pacifier in early childhood.

However, it’s not uncommon for alignment and overcrowding issues to occur without any outside influence.

Malocclusion, is a situation where your child’s upper or lower jaw is larger or is positioned further out from the other. When the top teeth extend too far out it is called overbite. When the lower jaw extends too far out it is called under-bite.

If you have noticed alignment, crowding or malocclusion issues with your child’s teeth, please feel free to call Dr. Muhammad Abey at 973-341-3180 to schedule an appointment. We look forward to helping your child have a healthy mouth and an appealing smile.