People are sometimes self-conscious about their smile, especially if the misalignment of their teeth is obvious. There are a variety of reasons why each person has different dental occlusion types. It may be because of childhood behaviors, alignment of the jaws, and how teeth grow in. There are several dental occlusion classes that a person’s bite can fall under. If you are wondering what type of bite you have, read this article!
1. Underbite
One of the types of occlusion is the underbite. This one is commonly seen in children. This is when the lower teeth are more prominent compared to your upper teeth. This happens when your upper jaw doesn’t grow as much as it should or when your lower jaw overgrows. Sometimes, it is a combination of the two.
If left untreated, this dental occlusion type can cause serious problems including damage to the enamel, joint tension in the jaw, and rapid tooth wear. This can also make a person have a “bulldog”-like appearance. Orthodontic treatment is one of the solutions to solve this.
2. Overbite
This is the complete opposite of underbite. An overbite means that a person’s upper jaw is more protruding than the lower jaw. Depending on the severity of this type of occlusion, your front teeth can damage your gums.
Like the underbite, overbite may also lead to problems if left untreated by a professional. This can cause damage to the enamel, weak gums that can lead to periodontal problems, abnormal wear of the lower front teeth, and many other issues. The good news is a palate expander or braces can fix this. This might also be a classified as a deep bite, but not all overbite can develop into a deep bite.
3. Crossbite
Another type of teeth occlusion is the crossbite. This has two types, which are the anterior and the posterior crossbite. An anterior crossbite is when your lower teeth fit behind your upper teeth. On the other hand, a posterior crossbite is when your upper teeth fit behind your lower teeth.
It is best to have a crossbite corrected to avoid any serious problems. A crossbite can result in lopsided facial appearance and jaw growth. It can also wear down the teeth’s enamel and result in periodontal problems if left untreated.
4. Crowding
Crowding of the teeth can happen when a person has bigger teeth than usual or a relatively small mouth. It can result in overlapping or rotating of the teeth. Overcrowding can push some teeth to move forward or backward.
The course of treatment for crowding includes orthodontic treatment, tooth extraction, a palate expander or surgery. If the patient is a child, the dentist can opt to remove some of their teeth to counteract overcrowding in the future.
5. Overjet
This is another type of occlusion. Overjet is when your upper teeth sit over your lower teeth. However, this is not to be confused with an overbite, as the upper teeth are even more severely protruding. An overjet can cause serious problems such as difficulty chewing, biting, and drinking. In some cases, people also experience jaw pain.
Overjet can be genetic. However, it can also happen because of bad oral habits including thumb sucking. Orthodontic treatment can fix this type of teeth occlusion. You can opt for dental bonding, veneers, or crowns.
6. Open Bite
Just like the crossbite, open bite has two types – the anterior and posterior open bite. When a person has anterior open bite, it means that their front teeth close but their back teeth don’t. On the other hand, a posterior open bite means that the back teeth close but front teeth don’t.
An open bite can be a result of bad habits including thumb sucking and tongue thrusting. A person can also experience difficulty in swallowing and in speech. It is important to let go of the bad oral habits to keep from making it worse. A person can also opt for braces or surgery.
Note that this list is not complete and we still recommend that you go to a specialist to get a proper assessment.
Dental Occlusion Classes
Here’s a brief overview of dental occlusion classes:
- Class 1: This is the most common out of the three dental occlusion classes. Class 1 is when your upper teeth overlap with your lower teeth, but in a manageable position. However, your other teeth may have gaps and/or are crowded.
- Class 2: This is when a person has a severe overbite. In Class 2, a person’s upper jaw and upper teeth are overlapping with their lower jaw and lower teeth.
- Class 3: In dental occlusion class 3, a person has a severe underbite. This is when a person’s lower teeth overlap with their upper teeth.
If you want to know more about teeth occlusions, you can visit us at Sunrise Dentistry. Nothing beats a professional assessment and consultation. We offer holistic dentistry in Durango, CO. What are you waiting for? Book an appointment now!
