What is an underbite and why should it be corrected?

With a correct bite, the load is distributed evenly between all teeth, while with an incorrect bite, the teeth do not close together as tightly. Because of this, part of the enamel is worn away, teeth are more susceptible to caries, and plaque (later tartar) forms faster. Chewing and swallowing become uncomfortable, and over time, problems with the functioning of the jaw joints begin. All this can be avoided if you consult an orthodontist in a timely manner and straighten your teeth.

What is an occlusion

An occlusion is the position of the teeth when a person closes their jaws. A dentist can determine whether there is a need for occlusion correction. After all, a correct orthognathic occlusion is not so common, and if a person carefully takes care of their teeth, their smile looks beautiful, even if the occlusion is incorrect. Problems with the jaw joints, in turn, do not arise immediately, so this may not bother a person for a while.

What is a correct bite

With a correct orthognathic bite, the jaws are located in an anatomically perfect position, the molars fit together, and the front upper teeth overlap the lower ones by about a third. Moreover, both jaws are symmetrical, a person is comfortable opening and closing his mouth, he chews food qualitatively. In practice, such an effect is more often achieved after aligning teeth with aligners or braces than it is a gift from nature.

What is a malocclusion

A malocclusion is formed in childhood, so it is important to take care of the baby’s healthy habits: wean him from sucking fingers, bottles and pacifiers in time, teach him the correct position of the head and neck, regularly feed him solid food (carrots, apples, nuts). There is a risk of malocclusion due to early removal of the sixth tooth or simultaneous loss of many baby teeth, and in this case it is worth contacting an orthodontist and starting supportive therapy. The following types of malocclusion are distinguished:

• mesial occlusion – the lower jaw is larger than the upper and protrudes forward so that the lower teeth actually cover the upper ones;
• deep occlusion – the upper jaw protrudes so that the upper teeth cover the lower ones by more than half;
• distal occlusion – the lower jaw is much smaller than the upper or is underdeveloped at all;
• open occlusion – the teeth do not close completely.

It also happens that the teeth are dystopic, that is, they are located in the wrong position. All these situations require correction.

What does a malocclusion look like

A malocclusion is indicated by the asymmetry of the dentition: some teeth are located incorrectly, there are gaps between them, there are clusters of teeth. With a medial occlusion, the lower jaw is noticeably larger than the upper, and with a distal occlusion, the opposite is true, and a smile exposes a large part of the gums above the upper teeth.

What does a malocclusion affect

A malocclusion is not only more frequent dental diseases, faster formation of plaque and tartar, and erosion of enamel. It has a negative impact on a number of functions:

• digestion. Since a person cannot chew food properly, this additionally loads the entire digestive system, and its work is disrupted;
• speech. A malocclusion causes diction defects, such as lisp or unclear pronunciation of individual sounds;
• nasal breathing. A malocclusion sometimes leads to nasal breathing disorders, and accordingly a person is more likely to suffer from ENT diseases: otitis, sinusitis, sinusitis. In turn, frequent ENT diseases in childhood also affect the development of the jaws and the formation of the bite;
• aesthetics.

In addition, due to a malocclusion, a person has a greater chance of encountering inflammatory diseases of the temporomandibular joints, which further complicate oral hygiene and the ability to chew.

Is it necessary to do something about a malocclusion

If a person feels discomfort while chewing or simply does not like the position of his teeth, it is worth starting with a consultation with an orthodontist. He will determine what the problem is and how best to solve it. This will require additional examinations: a computed tomography of the jaws, a panoramic image, functional diagnostics of occlusion in articulation, which helps to study the relationship of the jaws in dynamics, a teleradiogram. Sometimes a consultation with an maxillofacial surgeon is also necessary. Before orthodontic or surgical treatment, oral cavity sanitation is performed.

How to correct a bite

Based on the results of the examination and tests, the orthodontist will suggest a treatment plan. Teeth alignment for children is usually carried out at the age of 6-7 years, for this purpose special removable or fixed orthodontic appliances are used – for example, dental plates to raise the bite. Adults are offered aligners – transparent mouthguards for aligning teeth or braces. In some cases of congenital pathologies of the jaws, bite correction is performed surgically.

Methods of correcting the bite

The most common methods of aligning the bite for adult patients are aligners and braces.

Braces are a classic method of aligning teeth, which is helpful for most bite pathologies. Its main disadvantage is pain and rubbing of the mucous membrane at the beginning of wearing, as well as the need for frequent check-ups to tighten individual dystopic teeth with elastic bands. If suddenly the braces come off, you must immediately go to the orthodontist and return them to their place. The braces are not removable, so they must be thoroughly cleaned after each meal or drink. Otherwise, the patient will receive straight teeth affected by caries after treatment.

Aligners are a more modern and predictable method of aligning teeth. A computer model that shows how the position of the teeth will change, the number of required caps and the cost of treatment is calculated before the start of treatment. Thus, a person approximately understands how long he will have to wear the caps, and does not need regular visits to the doctor. Of course, there will be pain in this case, but at least the aligners do not injure the mucous membrane.

Aligners for correcting a bite

An important advantage of aligners is the patient’s greater mobility: he can be in any corner of the world, receive aligners for teeth alignment by mail, put them on himself and communicate with the dentist online. If the patient loses the aligner, it is not necessary to rush to the doctor immediately: he can calmly wait for the manufacture of a new aligner, and the alignment of the teeth will be temporarily paused. Other advantages of aligners are:

• they immediately move the teeth into the correct position;
• can be used in most cases, except for severe pathologies that are corrected surgically;
• the aligners are transparent and almost invisible from the outside;
• the aligners are removed before eating, allowing for convenient cleaning of the teeth.

The first set of aligners is worn for three weeks, the next ones for 10-14 days. Changes in the bite become noticeable after every three sets of aligners. Every one to three months, a control examination by an orthodontist is performed, and if necessary, the aligners are corrected. You should not expect a quick correction of the bite: this takes from two months to two years (depending on the severity of the bite pathology), and after the end of treatment, the person must wear mouthguards that fix the result for twice as long.