Have you been thinking about the fact that your smile is not quite as straight as you would like? Perhaps beyond wishing for a more uniform grin, you suffer from daily discomfort or difficulty with simple tasks like easily closing your top and bottom teeth together. The spectrum of misalignment concerns is broad, ranging from mild spacing or overcrowding to severe concerns. The good news? We can help you avoid the damage associated with poorly aligned teeth by detecting concerns early during dental checkups. Wondering if this topic may speak to your personal experience? Learn more to find out.
What Is Misalignment?
Misalignment is another way of saying that your teeth are not lined up correctly. This also refers to the way your top and bottom teeth and jaws align (which is also referred to as a malocclusion – or bad bite). An aligned smile is one that looks uniform and allows a patient to close his or her mouth, chew, or speak without any problems or discomfort. Common types of misalignment include spacing, open bite, overcrowding, under bite, cross bite, and over bite.
Why Seek Out Misalignment?
We look for misalignment during your dental checkups because poorly organized teeth may result in a variety of negative side effects. For instance, if you cannot close your teeth together comfortably, they may grind against each other, resulting in significant wear and damage. Or, you may attempt to compensate by shifting your jaw, which may place stress on your jaw joints and lead to TMJ disorder. Fortunately, by detecting a problem, we can suggest treatment and protect you from damage.
What Can I Do About Misaligned Teeth?
In most cases, we will suggest orthodontic care, which may include a referral to a trusted orthodontist once we have examined your smile during a dental checkup. A variety of systems may address misalignment problems, including traditional or clear braces.
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