Common Orthodontic Issues

There are common orthodontic problems that we see in new patients, but your experience, your preferences and your ultimate smile goals make your case one-of-a-kind!

When you visit us for a complimentary orthodontic exam, Dr. Aaron Carroll or Dr. Michael Sutton will examine your condition to determine the most efficient treatment method for your case.

When the upper jaw extends further than the lower jaw, it characterizes an overbite condition. Depending on how severe the condition is, an overbite can make it challenging to eat and chew properly. In some cases, the lower teeth will meet the roof of the mouth—ouch!

When the upper teeth are positioned inside the lower teeth, this is called a crossbite. Posterior crossbites occur in the back of the mouth, while anterior crossbites occur toward the front of the mouth. Crossbites can affect individual or multiple teeth in a row. This condition is often the result of irregular tooth eruptions, late loss of baby teeth, or thumb sucking during childhood. It can also occur due to a mismatch in the size of the upper and lower jaws. Crossbites are often treated with braces, clear aligners, and/or various orthodontic appliances.

If some of the top teeth don’t meet the bottom teeth when the mouth is closed, either in the back of the mouth or the front, this is called an open bite. With a healthy alignment, the top teeth overlap the bottom teeth slightly.

An open bite may be the result of skeletal development problems and/or childhood habits, like thumb sucking and tongue thrusting. It can be extremely challenging to chew food properly and pronounce certain words with an open bite, and the facial structure is typically affected by this condition.

Open bites can be treated with both braces and MEAW/GEAW while others may require surgery. Early orthodontic treatment can be especially effective for treating this condition before it progresses and leads to further challenges.

Although it is normal to have some spaces between primary (baby) teeth, excessive gaps or spaces between the permanent teeth can also be caused by a few factors, including excessive space in the mouth, missing teeth congenitally or due to cavities or trauma, as well as childhood habits (like thumb sucking).

Spacing issues are some of the most common orthodontic problems and are often treatable with braces or clear aligners.

Teeth that overlap are considered to be ‘crowded.’ More often than not, crowding is the result of insufficient room in the mouth. When the jaws aren’t wide enough to fit all teeth, the teeth start to overlap as they emerge.

There are many options for treating crowded teeth, but they are most commonly treated with braces, clear aligners, or sometimes palatal expanders and retainers. Our orthodontists will discuss your best treatment options with you.