Posted: September 30, 2022
To many people, a beautiful smile is a balanced one. Straight teeth that fit together naturally are a dental goal for several dental patients. The opposite of that would be teeth that are poorly aligned, often referred to as bad bite or malocclusion. But what causes malocclusion and crooked teeth?
3 Types of Malocclusion
Malocclusion, or bad bite, is the condition of having misaligned teeth. Depending on the degree of misalignment, the consequences of malocclusion can range from cosmetic to difficulty chewing. The three primary classes of malocclusion are:
- Class 1: The upper molars overlap with the lower molars in a good position, but the other teeth are crowded or spaced too far apart.
- Class 2: The upper teeth and jaw significantly overlap with the lower teeth and jaw. This class typically happens when someone has a smaller than average jaw (overbite).
- Class 3: The lower teeth overlap with your upper teeth. This type usually occurs because the lower jaw protrudes forward (underbite).
Causes of Crooked Teeth
While having a bad bite relation is usually genetic it isn’t the only known cause. Because poor bite alignment is often passed down generationally, there’s often not much that can be done behaviorally to prevent it. However, other factors can also contribute:
- Cleft lip and palate
- Frequent use of a pacifier after age 3
- Prolonged use of bottle feeding in early childhood
- Thumb sucking in early childhood
- Jaw dysfunction
- Ill fitting dental fillings, crowns, or braces
- Airway obstruction (mouth breathing), potentially caused by allergies or by enlarged adenoids or tonsils
Contact Evolution Dental Today
If you live in Calgary, Northwest Calgary, Cochrane or other nearby areas of Alberta and would like to learn more about treatment options for crooked teeth, you can call Evolution Dental today at 403-768-2433 to schedule an appointment with Dr. Kendra Schick.
*all procedures performed at our practice by a general dentist
