The first type of patient is one with overcrowded teeth.This happens when there is insufficient space for all the teeth in the jaw bone. If this remains untreated, the overcrowding could get even worse. The overcrowding issue can cause various oral and dental health problems, such as gum disease, tooth decay, and development of plaque. This is one of the great benefits of Invisalign ® – it can solve future problems that might arise while at the same time creating esthetic appeal and nice straight teeth. Secondly we have spaced teeth. This situation occurs when the jawbone continues to grow abnormally. This can also result when there are missing teeth, which cause other teeth to shift due to the fact that there is increased space for them. The problem with spaced teeth is that it is not just a physical problem but because they are not protected by teeth it can also create a gum problem and there is risk of periodontal disease.
Underbites are another common dental issue whereby the upper and lower jaws are not aligned. This causes the lower tooth to protrude beyond the front teeth. There are three main reasons for this: the undergrowth of the upper jaw, overgrowth of lower jaw or both of these conditions acting in tandem. This can prevent the teeth from functioning properly, which causes a wearing down of teeth. Overbite is obviously the opposite of under-bite whereby the upper jaw protrudes beyond the lower jaw. Dentists often refer to this as ‘overjet’.
Lastly a situation we see is the ‘cross-bite’ which happens when the upper and lower jaws are not aligned properly. When one or more of the upper teeth bite down they touch the inside of the lower teeth. This causes the teeth to chip and can result in abnormal tooth wear and periodontal problems that will eventually cause loss of the jawbone.