Types of Bites: All you Need to Know

Bites can be very crucial in identifying the alignment of the teeth in inside your mouth. Therefore, different types of bites can showcase various orthodontic disorders. Most kids, in their formative years could have an issue with their teeth alignment due to the regeneration of them. However, they can be corrected with braces, dental treatments, etc.

Following are different types of bites and the orthodontic disorders they indicate.

Crossbite

Crossbite can happen in the front or the sides of the mouth. It occurs when one or more teeth in the upper area are biting down the insides of the lower ones. If not corrected, it could be a cause of premature wear of the teeth, gum disease, improper chewing patterns, etc.

It can be corrected with the help of braces or a retainer if only one tooth is involved in the crossbite. However, a palate expander is used for multiple teeth.

Overbite

Also known as a deep bite, overbite happens when the upper front teeth overlap on the lower ones. The overlap is vertical and can be caused by overdevelopment of the bone supporting the teeth and the disproportionate eruption of the front teeth. It can lead to wear of lower teeth and improper functioning of front teeth. If the lower teeth bite into the gum tissue, it can also result in periodontal problems.

Orthodontic leveling of the front or back teeth is used to correct this disorder.

Underbite

An underbite is caused by lower teeth biting into the front upper teeth. An undergrowth of the upper jaw or the overgrowth of the lower one could be a cause for this issue. Other causes of the underbite include missing upper teeth, flared lower incisors, and tipped back upper incisors. These need to be corrected early on as they could lead to jaw joint dysfunction. They could also prevent the front and back teeth to function well.

In order to correct this disorder, growth modification of the jaws or extracting the teeth can be useful. In some cases, surgical movement of the jaws may also be required.

Open bite

Open bite is caused due to bad oral habits like tongue thrust, and thumb sucking. It can also be caused by the uneven growth of jaws. Open bite happens when the front teeth inadequately overlap the lower ones. It is crucial to treat this on time as it can be the cause of premature wear of back teeth. One can also have dysfunctional chewing patterns because of open bite.

Braces or surgical methods can be used to correct this disorder.

Overjet

Also known as “buck teeth”, overjet looks similar to overbite and is often confused with the latter. The horizontal relationship between the upper and lower front teeth is characterized by overjet and the excess of the same could be a problem. The causes of the same are missing lower teeth, improper alignment of the molars, and skeletal imbalance of the jaws. It can result in premature wear of the teeth, if not corrected.

Appliance and/or elastic are commonly used to treat an overjet.

Other types of bites include Impacted Teeth, Missing teeth, Crowding of Teeth, and Spacing of Teeth. All of these can be corrected with braces, dental implants, or surgical procedures.

Author
Bello Dental

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