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<p>Orthodontics is the branch of dentistry that specializes in the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of dental and facial irregularities. The technical term for these problems is "malocclusion," which means "bad bite.</p>
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<p><font face="Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular">It is not sufficient to categorize orthodontic malocclusions on the basis of a classification of the teeth alone. The relationship with other craniofacial structures must also be taken into consideration.</font></p>
<p>Crossbite: One or more of the upper teeth biting on the inside of the lower teeth characterizes a crossbite. Crossbite can occur in the front and/or the sides of the mouth. Early correction of crossbites is recommended.</p>
<p>Crowding is the lack of space for all the teeth to fit normally within the jaws. The teeth may be rotated or displaced. Crowding occurs when there is disharmony in the tooth to jaw size relationship, or when the teeth are larger than the available space. Crowding can be caused by early or late loss of primary teeth, improper eruption of teeth, or a genetic imbalance between jaw and tooth size.</p>
<p>An impacted tooth is one that has failed to erupt normally into the mouth and remains partially or totally covered by the gums and/or bone. Impactions can be caused by improper position of the developing tooth bud, premature loss of primary teeth, and crowding. Wisdom teeth are the most commonly impacted teeth, but canines and premolars are also commonly impacted.</p>
<p>Missing teeth can be the result of congenital absence (the tooth fails to develop), trauma, or dental extractions.Openbite</p>
<p>Inadequate vertical overlap of the front teeth characterizes an openbite. It is caused by oral habits such as tongue thrust, digit sucking, or when the jaws don't grow evenly. Timing of treatment is critical to the overall success of the therapy.Openbite</p>
<p>Inadequate vertical overlap of the front teeth characterizes an openbite. It is caused by oral habits such as tongue thrust, digit sucking, or when the jaws don't grow evenly. Timing of treatment is critical to the overall success of the therapy.</p>
<p>Overbite is a measure of the vertical overlap of the upper and lower front teeth. Excessive overbite may be caused by disproportionate eruption of front teeth, or over development of the bone that supports the teeth. Excessive overbite is commonly seen in conjunction with a Class II relationship (see below). Overbite is also known as a deep bite.</p>
<p>Overjet is measure of the horizontal relationship of the upper and lower front teeth. It is often called "buck teeth", and is commonly confused with overbite. Excessive overjet may be caused by improper alignment of the molars (Class II relationship); a skeletal imbalance of the upper and lower jaw(s); flared upper incisors; missing lower teeth; crowded or tipped back lower teeth, or a combination of all the above. In addition, oral habits such as thumb or finger sucking or tongue thrusting can exacerbate the condition.</p>
<p>Spacing, the opposite of crowding, is an excess of available space, resulting in gaps between the teeth. This generally occurs when the teeth are smaller than the available space. Protrusive teeth, missing or impacted teeth, or abnormal gum tissue attachments can also cause spacing.</p>
<p>The lower teeth biting in front of the upper teeth characterize an underbite. An underbite is usually caused by undergrowth of the upper jaw, overgrowth of the lower jaw, or a combination of the two (Class III Relationship). Underbite can also be caused by tipped back upper incisors, flared lower incisors, missing upper teeth or a combination of all the above. Early correction of underbite is recommended.</p>
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<p> <a href="cl_face.html">Class face</a> <a href="cl_teeth.html">_Class teeth</a> <a href="cross.html">Crossbite</a> <a href="crowding.html">Crowding</a> <a href="impacted.html">Impacted</a> <a href="intro.html">Introduction</a> <a href="missing.html">Missing Teeth</a> <a href="open_b.html">Openbite</a> </p>
<p> <a href="over_b.html">Overbite</a> <a href="over_j.html">Overjet</a> <a href="spacing.html">Spacing</a> <a href="under_b.html">Underbite</a> </p>
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