Monday, 13 October 2008

• Causes and Diagnosis of Malocclusion

  
  
  Most people do not have perfectly aligned teeth unless they have received treatment. Malocclusion means that the teeth are not aligned properly and there is a problem with the ‘bite’. The manner in which the upper and lower teeth fit together is the ‘bite’. Ideally, the points of the upper molars fit into the grooves on the lower molars. People whose teeth protrude are often described as having ‘buck teeth’, a malocclusion known as an overbite. When the lower jaw and teeth jut forward, it is called an underbite.
  

  Malocclusion is most often hereditary and the condition is passed down through families. If there is a difference between the size of the upper and lower jaws, the teeth may be pushed outward. Crowding occurs when the teeth are too large for the jaw space;  while very small teeth in a large jaw may drift out of position causing alignment problems. 

  There are a variety of other causes of malocclusion:

  ·       Thumb sucking

  ·       Prolonged use of a pacifier

  ·       Tongue thrusting

  ·       Mouth breathing

  ·       Prolonged use of a baby bottle

  ·       Premature loss of baby teeth

  ·       Trauma such as a jaw fracture resulting in misalignment

  ·       Tooth loss may cause drifting of a tooth into the empty space

  ·       Impacted or abnormally shaped teeth

  ·       Ill-fitting dental fillings, crowns, appliances

  ·       Tumors of the mouth or jaw

  ·       Congenital malformations such as cleft palate or severely underdeveloped jaw
  

  The most obvious symptom of malocclusion is protruding or crooked teeth and the condition can range from mild to severe. Other signs and symptoms include:

  ·       Difficulty chewing and biting food

  ·       Abnormal appearance of the face when the malocclusion is severe

  ·       Speech difficulties including a lisp and slurring

  ·       Pain in facial or jaw muscles

  ·       Teeth may come in at the wrong position

  ·       Problems with repeated biting of cheek or tongue

  ·       Mouth breathing

  Dental malocclusions are often first noticed by the dentist who may suggest a visit to an orthodontist for evaluation. This will likely consist of:

  ·       Dental x-rays including panoramic and profile x-rays to check the jawbone and dental structure

  ·       Clinical examination of the teeth, gums, jaw structure, jaw joint function

  ·       Facial x-rays

  ·       A plaster mold of the teeth may be made.

  ·       A medical and dental history will be taken.

  A plan of orthodontic treatment will then be developed to correct the malocclusion problem.

  
  

  
  Click here to claim your blog on Blogged.com

  
  

  
  

  

  • 7:44 PM
  • 19 Views
  • add eprops
  • add comments
  • email
• Hi everyone!
  We would like to have our own informative blog about sedation dentistry, please feel free to contribute as well.
  Drop us a comment if you've got some ideas on sedation dentistry - or just to say, "Hi!"

  • 7:30 PM
  • 7 Views
  • 2 eProps
  • 1 Comment
  • email