Crowding - A disharmony between tooth-size and jaw- size can result in crowded, irregular teeth. Crowded teeth can look unattractive and can be more difficult to clean. Crowding Crowding
Crossbite - If the upper jaw is too narrow, the lower jaw usually swings to one side to allow the back teeth to mesh. The permanent incisor teeth can also erupt in crossbite. Anterior crossbites can cause uneven wear of the teeth and can interfere with normal jaw closure. Orthodontic treatment involves the use of a fixed or removable appliance to widen the upper jaw (maxillary expansion). Once the upper jaw has been widened, the lower jaw can close normally. Sometimes deciduous teeth must be extracted to provided sufficient space. As a general rule, crossbites should be corrected as soon as they are detected. Posterior Crossbite Anterior Crossbite
Underbite - When the lower jaw is forward in relation to the upper jaw, the lower front teeth protrude beyond the upper teeth and an "under-bite" results. Underbite Underbite
Open-bite - An open-bite exists when opposing teeth don't meet. An open-bite can cause eating problems and excessive wear of those teeth which do make contact. An open-bite can be unattractive and can be associated with speech problems. Open-bite
Spacing - Spaces between the teeth can look unattractive and can interfere with cleaning your teeth. Spacing
Missing Teeth - Missing teeth can be unattractive. Opposing and adjacent teeth can drift into the space to create further problems. Orthodontic treatment involves moving all teeth into correct position, and creating proper space to facilitate replacement of the missing teeth. Missing Teeth
Partial braces may or may not be used in Phase I treatment. Early orthodontic treatment can sometimes avoid extraction of permanent teeth and may produce a more stable long-term result. Phase I treatment is typically lasts 12 to 18 months followed by a period of observation until all permanent teeth erupt. Most patients require Phase II (full braces) around age 11-13 to finish the correction of the bite problem.
