Every day patients are starting their journeys wearing braces or clear aligners, and every day others are completing their treatment and enjoying a new beautiful smile. It’s an experience that can be life-changing for those with orthodontic problems. There are a number of very common reasons that people seek help from Dr. Laprade  with their orthodontic issues.

Crowding:

One of the most obvious reasons patients are unhappy with their smiles is teeth that don’t have enough room to grow in and become crowded within their smile. This problem not only can look unappealing, it can cause oral health issues. Teeth that are too close together can be hard to clean completely due to their overlapping  tooth surfaces.

Spacing:

The opposite problem to crowding is teeth that are spaced too far apart. There is too much room in the jaw for teeth that are coming in, which can result from missing teeth or could just be a cosmetic problem.

Upper front teeth protrusion:

Sometimes the upper front teeth stick out farther than they should. This can be an embarrassing look, plus can make it more difficult for your teeth to function normally. This happens when the upper front teeth stick out too far forward, or the lower front teeth sit further back than they should.

Overbite:

In situations where the upper front teeth overlap excessively  over the lower front teeth, the result is called an overbite. Severe overbites can  cause the lower teeth to bite into the roof of the mouth, making it very uncomfortable. Overbites can also lead to lips that stick out too far, gummy smiles, or too much wear on incisor teeth.

Underbite:

When the lower jaw sticks further out than it should, it’s called an underbite. The result is lower front teeth that awkwardly sit in front of the upper front teeth.

Crossbite:

Another problem that Dr. Laprade sees frequently is a crossbite. When the jaw is closed, the upper teeth rest inside the lower teeth. Various problems are linked to crossbites, including incorrect use of the lower jaw, improper jaw growth, teeth that tip over inappropriately, or the two sides of a person’s face not looking equivalent to one another.

Openbite:

If the lower and upper front teeth don’t overlap at all, an openbite is created. This can be caused by undesirable habits like tongue thrusting or thumb sucking.

Unmatched dental midlines:

When the back portion of the bite doesn’t fit together or match correctly, it’s referred to as unmatched dental midlines. The teeth and jaw may not function as they should when this occurs.

If you suspect you have any of these common orthodontic problems, call Pawtucket Orthodontics today to schedule an appointment with Dr. Laprade. You don’t have to go through life with issues like these; help is on the way through braces, aligners, or other orthodontic treatments.