3 Common Issues Treated by Orthodontists

Orthodontists are amazingly skilled at gently manipulating the teeth and bite, moving all elements into their proper positions. Through their care techniques, your oral health and overall quality of life can dramatically improve.

You may need to see an orthodontist if you have any bite or tooth alignment irregularities, especially if they are causing difficulty eating, speaking, or smiling. Here are a few conditions these professionals treat.

Open Bite

In a perfect world, your upper and lower molars would line up just so, creating a perfectly even bite. If you are prone to tongue thrusting, thumb sucking, or similar habits, your bite may not develop correctly. An open bite typically develops as a result, leaving a gap between your upper and lower sets of teeth. Open bites can also occur due to simple genetic factors or seemingly at random.

No matter the cause, if left without treatment, an open bite can cause problems eating regular meals and conversing with others. Treatment depends on the severity of the open bite and all other complicating factors.

Overjet

While similar to an overbite, overjet occurs when the teeth actually splay outward rather than sit vertically in the mouth. When teeth protrude, they often impact confidence and make it hard to eat certain foods.

Both genetics and habits contribute to the development of protruding teeth. Either way, this condition is usually easy to treat with fixed or removable orthodontic appliances. The severity of the problem determines which appliance your orthodontist will use for treatment.

Crowding

Orthodontists regularly resolve tooth spacing issues, such as crowding. With crowding, your teeth are spaced too close together or may even overlap.

When your teeth do not have enough space, you are at risk of cavities, tooth decay, and other trying problems. You may also feel dissatisfied with the appearance of your smile and the ability to chew without difficulty. Thankfully, fixing crowding is often as easy as wearing braces — and attending all follow-ups with your orthodontist.

Orthodontists treat many other bite and teeth alignment issues that often cause problems for their patients. If you have bite or tooth alignment issues, you can easily acquire the orthodontic care you need by reaching out to our team at Arnstine McGuire Orthodontics. You can request an appointment online or fill out our form to receive a prompt response back.