Many conditions are attributed to malocclusion. Below are the most common ones.
- Protruding upper jaw (horizontal overlap, overbite ). In this case, the upper row of teeth protrudes strongly forward (teeth outside the arch). Such a defect may occur due to the small size of the lower jaw. Also, if the baby uses a pacifier or is habituated to thumb sucking, this can create conditions for the development of horizontal overlap. Such habits displace the teeth. Sometimes this leads to a change in the sky. This type of malocclusion is one of the most common (Figure 1).
- Crowding or enlarged interdental spaces. Too much or too little space between teeth can cause problems. Crowding prevents the molars from erupting properly, or leads to retention (when the tooth remains under the mucosa).
- Shifted midline of the sky. In people with this defect, the center lines of the upper and lower front teeth do not match.
- Open bite . Although a person with this overbite has their molars in place, the front upper teeth do not overlap the lower ones. This creates an open space in the mouth. This type of bite can occur on one or both lines of teeth (Fig. 5).
- Deep bite. In a person with a similar bite, the upper front teeth protrude too far relative to the lower ones. In advanced cases, the lower teeth reach the sky (Fig. 3).
- Prognathia ( mesial occlusion ) . Prognathia is a type of malocclusion when the lower front teeth are further than the upper front teeth (Fig. 2).
- Crossbite . It occurs when some or all of the upper teeth do not properly meet the lower teeth (Figure 4).
- Turn. This is a condition where a tooth is incorrectly placed in its position.
- Transposition. In this case, the teeth grow (erupt) out of place.
Classification of bite defects
In a normal bite, the upper teeth should protrude slightly forward of the lower ones. And with the wrong bite, this position is violated. Therefore, the classification of bite defects is based on the position of the upper and lower teeth lines. The correct position of the jaw bones relative to the teeth is also considered.
- Class I. Despite the correct position of the upper and lower teeth, there is too much or not enough space between them. In severe cases, crossbite, twisting and overlapping may develop.
- Class II. The lower molars fit under the upper, but grow towards the throat and pull the chin back.
- Class III. The lower molars are strongly displaced forward and do not correspond to the upper ones. This arrangement creates a protruding jaw and protruding lower teeth that create a crossbite.
If a baby has problems with the structure of the jaw at birth, this can also lead to the development of a malocclusion. A bite, in turn, can cause displacement of the jaw joint.
