Why You May Have a Malocclusion and What to Do About It

Did you know that one in five Americans has a malocclusion?

A malocclusion refers to any misalignment of the teeth or jaw. Common examples include overbites, underbites, cross bites and open bites.

What is the reason for a malocclusion?

For one, our ancestors’ jaws were much larger. Dietary and genetic changes have resulted in smaller jaws, but if one’s wisdom teeth add too many teeth to the jaw, it can mess with the alignment of the other teeth.

Malocclusions can also occur when children suck their thumbs, thrust their tongues, use pacifiers regularly or when they lose a baby tooth before it’s ready to fall out. These events can eventually sway the position in which adult teeth come in.

The healing of a malocclusion almost always includes orthodontics, particularly braces. It may also include the extraction of baby teeth or even adult teeth. Sometimes your orthodontist, Dr. Aaron Miyai, may advise other orthodontic appliances as part of your treatment plan for a malocclusion, like headgear, a space-maintainer, elastics and retainers.

Reach out to Hawaii Smile Designs for more information.