The different types of teeth malocclusion

Common bite irregularities include:

• Class I malocclusion — Upper and lower jaws line up correctly but your teeth are crooked, crowded, turned, or spaced apart.
  • Crowding — when teeth are placed too close together and overlapping. The condition occurs when teeth are unusually large or if the jaw is smaller than normal, so that the permanent teeth may not have enough space to move into the right position or even to erupt at all (impacted teeth).
  • Spacing — when there are large and uneven spaces between the teeth. Gapped teeth are usually caused by missing teeth or smaller than normal teeth in relation to the size of the jaw.
  • Rotation — when a tooth turns or tips out of its normal position.
  • Transposition — when a tooth erupts in one another's place.
• Overbite (Class II malocclusion) — when the upper front teeth overlap excessively over the lower teeth. In some cases, the biting edges of the upper teeth touch the lower front gum tissue or the lower teeth bite into the roof of the mouth.
• Underbite (Class III malocclusion) — when the lower front teeth are positioned forward of the upper front teeth
• Crossbite — A crossbite occurs when any or all of the upper teeth are positioned significantly inside or outside the lower teeth. A crossbite can cause chewing problems.
• Open bite — when the upper and lower front teeth don't meet, creating an opening on one or both sides of the mouth. Because the front teeth don't share equally in the biting force, the condition may lead to premature wear of the back teeth.
• Misplaced midline — when the front center line between the upper front teeth doesn't match up with the center line of the lower front teeth.
• Overjet – when the upper front teeth angle horizontally outwards (horizontal). This type of malocclusion is usually referred as “buck teeth”

Angle's classification of malocclusion

Edward Hartley Angle was an American orthodontist (1855-1930) who first made the classification of the various types of malocclusion. The classification is based on where the buccal groove of the mandibular first molar contacts the mesiobuccal cusp of the maxillary first molar:

• on the cusp (Class I, neutroclusion, or normal occlusion)
• distal to the cusp by at least the width of a premolar (Class II, distocclusion) or
• mesial to the cusp (Class III, mesiocclusion).

Although most people have some type of malocclusion, orthodontic treatment of bad bite is not always required, unless the dentist’s evaluation is that the teeth malocclusion is causing, or might cause in the future, functional or dental health problems, or if the person feels uncomfortable with his appearance.

The cost involved with dental braces can be significant and many patients may not afford it if they are not covered by their dental insurance. Learn how to choose a dental insurance plan that will provide the best dental treatment to you and your family.