Let's start at the very beginning by looking in the mirror. It is not hard to discern if you have a nice smile or not. Do your teeth line up? When we look at your face, from an orthodontic standpoint, we look at your smile in two ways. First, is your smile aesthetic? Does it look nice when you smile? Secondly, and arguably more important, we look at the functionality of your smile.
The way your upper jaw and lower jaw come together, encompass your bite. Your upper teeth should fit slightly over your lower teeth. The points of your molars should fit the grooves of the opposite molar. If your jaw lines up according to these rules, you probably have a good bite. Bite function is important for many reasons. Chewing, swallowing, breathing, facial symmetry, and digestion are to name a few. Additionally, if you have a good bite you shouldn't be experiencing any discomfort in your jaw.
Types of Bad Bites
If your teeth are misaligned, it can be problematic in several ways. You may have an open bite. Perhaps your front upper teeth flare out creating spaces between them and the lower teeth. This is characteristic of a thumb sucker. By discouraging this habit after a year, parents can help children to avoid having an open bite.
An underbite is another type of a bad bite. In this case the lower teeth overlap or partially cover the upper teeth. An overbite is similar, but the opposite is true. Patients with an overbite may bite down on to their gums with their front teeth.
A cross bite is a completely different condition. The upper teeth sit inside of your lower teeth. This can happen on one or both sides of your jaw.
The good news is these four types of bad bites can be improved with orthodontic treatment. Please call or stop by our office today to make it appointment if you suspect you may have a bad bite. We would love to discuss with you some options for future treatment so you can have and aesthetically pleasing and functionally sound smile.
About Star Orthodontics | Braces Corpus Christi, TX At Star Orthodontics, we are committed to providing our patients with Star Treatment and Star Results! Our office is conveniently located in Corpus Christi, TX! Star Orthodontics - Dr. Roxanne Robertson, 4750 S. Padre Island Dr. Suite 101, Corpus Christi, Tx 78411 + 361-371-8555 + starbraces.com + 9/25/2023 + Page Phrases: orthodontist Corpus Christi +
Let's start at the very beginning by looking in the mirror. It is not hard to discern if you have a nice smile or not. Do your teeth line up? When we look at your face, from an orthodontic standpoint, we look at your smile in two ways. First, is your smile aesthetic? Does it look nice when you smile? Secondly, and arguably more important, we look at the functionality of your smile.