This means that if your upper and lower teeth suffer from an underbite, overbite or crossbite, this can damage your teeth and gums and impact your long-term oral health. The way your upper and lower teeth fit together impacts overall mouth functioning. This condition refers to either an underbite, overbite or crossbite. The opinions expressed here are protected by copyright laws and can only be used with written permission from the author.A bad bite, also known as malocclusion, is a problem that occurs when there is an abnormal fitting of your upper and lower teeth when you bite or chew down on food. Please read all of the comments associated with each article as most of the questions he receives each week have been asked and answered previously. Because he has over 30,000 readers each month, it is impossible for him respond to all questions. He cannot diagnose cases described in comments nor can he select treatment plans for readers. Jorgensen is licensed to diagnose and treat patients only in the state of New Mexico. It is not a venue for debating alternative treatment theories. This blog is for informational purposes only and is designed to help consumers understand currently accepted orthodontic concepts. Jorgensen’s 25 years of specialty practice and 10,000 finished cases qualify him an expert in two-phase treatment, extraction and non-extraction therapy, functional orthodontics, clear aligners (Invisalign), and multiple bracket systems (including conventional braces, Damon and other self-ligating brackets, Suresmile, and lingual braces). Louis, and the University of Iowa in the United States. He was trained at BYU, Washington University in St. Greg Jorgensen, is a board-certified orthodontist who is in the private practice of orthodontics in Rio Rancho, New Mexico (a suburb on the Westside of Albuquerque). Are they too long, too short, or just the right length? Are they aligned in a nice curve that parallels the lower lip? Is the bite open, too deep, or overlapping just the right amount? Is the upper arch slightly wider than the lower and do the midlines correspond? From the top (or occlusal) view, are the teeth well aligned and resting next to each other without spaces or overlapping? Do the back teeth mesh together like gears and do the top front teeth lie correctly against the front of the lower ones? If any of these relationships are not as described, there are probably issues with the size, shape, or position of the teeth or jaws that can and should be addressed through orthodontic treatment. When I evaluate a bite, I look at the patient from the front to get a general idea of where their teeth are positioned between their lips. This is what is commonly referred to as an “overbite.” Neither should the upper teeth stick out too far in front of the lower ones so that there is no contact. The edges of the upper teeth should not bite directly on the edges of the lower incisors or behind them (known as an underbite). This means that the upper teeth are in front of the lowers when the bite is closed. The backs of the upper front teeth should rest in gentle contact with the fronts of the lower ones. The cusps or pointed ends of the top teeth should fit perfectly between two teeth in the bottom. The best way to describe the ideal relationship from this perspective is a set of matching gears. The most difficult view for patients to see is the one from the side. The lower midline should line up with the top one. The upper midline should line up with the middle of the upper lip. Another important relationship of the upper and lower arches with each other and with the face is the position of the midlines (the line between the central incisors). If the upper arch is too narrow (or too wide) such that the teeth “cross over” the lower ones in either direction, the condition is called a crossbite. In an ideal bite, the upper arch is slightly wider than the lower. If the upper teeth do not overlap the lower ones enough, then you have an open bite. If the upper incisors cover too much of the lower teeth, this is called a deep bite. With teeth closed together, about one half to two thirds of the length of the bottom teeth should be visible. If they are too short, they won’t show enough enamel when they smile and they will look prematurely old or toothless. If the upper teeth are too long, the patient will show too much gum tissue when they smile. Ideally, the edges of the upper front teeth should parallel the top of the lower lip. The front view is what patients first see when they look in the mirror.
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