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Orthodontic Conditions
It's not just about a straight smile, it's about achieving a healthy smile!
Orthodontics is the field of dentistry that focuses on preventing, diagnosing and treating facial and dental irregularities. Crowding, spacing, impacted and protruding teeth are all common orthodontic conditions affecting many of our patients. However, there are also many other problems which can be alleviated through orthodontic treatment.
Crowded Teeth
Also known as overcrowding or dental crowding, crowded teeth happen when there isn't enough space in the mouth for your permanent teeth to grow straight resulting in crooked, overlapping teeth. Depending on the size of your jaw and how many teeth you have crowding can range from mild to severe. With the correct orthodontic treatment, our team of Brisbane orthodontists can correct crowded teeth.
Crowded teeth most commonly occur when there is a discrepancy between the size of your jaw and the size of your teeth. Crowding is the most common orthodontic problem amongst our patients.
As well as being less attractive, crowding can cause teeth to function incorrectly. Crowded teeth are also harder to keep clean, causing an increased risk of decay and periodontal disease.
Braces are the most common treatment used for treating crowding. This is the most effective and accurate way to align crowded teeth. In some cases, extraction may be necessary to create sufficient space to reposition teeth.
Spaced Teeth
Known as diastema, spaced teeth is when a person has gaps between two or more teeth. The size of the gaps can range from small to large. If the gap isn't visibly noticeable most people will find a tooth gap while brushing or flossing.
Gaps can develop between any teeth in the mouth. but the most common type is Midline Diastema. Midline diastema is where the upper two front teeth present with a gap.
Diastema can occur due to a number of reasons including genetics, gum tissue overgrowth, abnormal tongue thrusting activity, or discrepancies between tooth and jaw size. With the right orthodontic treatment, our team can correct the gaps in your teeth.
Treatment options for spaced teeth include braces and clear aligners. Every smile is different so we recommend consulting with one of our specialist orthodontists before committing to any treatment options. Many children will have spaces between their primary (baby) teeth. These spaces will often correct themselves but if you are concerned please contact our team to book a consult with one of our specialist orthodontists.
Protruding Teeth
Protruding teeth are prone to accidental damage and often wear unevenly. In some cases the lower front teeth can cause damage to the gum behind the front top teeth. Protruding teeth can also be unattractive and more prone to damage.
Treatment for protruding teeth depends on the cause but usually involves aligning, leveling and coordination of both the upper and lower arches. Braces are often the treatment of choice for patients with protruding teeth. In growing patients, braces are often used in conjunction with elastics, functional appliances.
Impacted Teeth
Impacted teeth do not have sufficient space to erupt or they erupt in the wrong direction (ectopic eruption). Ectopic eruption most commonly occurs with the upper canine teeth. It is not known why this happens. If this condition is diagnosed before 10 years of age, treatment can be very simple. If it is left too late and all deciduous (baby) teeth are lost, treatment is usually quite complex.
Impacted teeth can cause significant damage to adjacent teeth and cause the dentition to function incorrectly. They can also leave unwanted gaps that can be unattractive.
Once the tooth has been uncovered by an oral surgeon, it can be brought into the correct position with braces.
Missing Teeth
When teeth are missing, the surrounding teeth tend to drift into the empty spaces, causing unattractive spaces between the teeth. Treatment for missing teeth will involve fixed braces, and artificial teeth are placed once the braces have been removed. Options for tooth replacement include bridges or implants.
Ectopic Teeth
Ectopic teeth are those that are growing and developing in the wrong position in the jaw. The most common teeth to develop in an ectopic position are the canines also known as cuspids and fangs, in the upper jaw. Most ectopic teeth can be moved into the correct position with the help of fixed braces.
Cross Bite
A cross bite can be either anterior or posterior. A posterior cross bite occurs when your upper teeth fall inside your lower teeth on one side when you bite down. An anterior cross bite, which is similar to an under bite, occurs when your top front teeth fall behind your lower front teeth when you bite down.
Under Bite
An under bite occurs when the lower jaw is in front of the upper jaw. An under bite can cause excessive wear on the teeth and place strain on the jaw joints. It is often possible to correct an under bite at an early age with a reverse pull head gear. In mild cases, correction may also be possible with fixed braces. In severe cases, jaw surgery may be required.
Deep Bite
A deep bite occurs when the upper front teeth cover most or all of the lower front teeth when the teeth are together. A Deep bite is associated with excessive tooth wear and gum damage, and can also cause temporo-mandibular joint problems. Deep bite is often treated with fixed braces.
Open Bite
An open bite occurs when the upper and lower teeth fail to overlap when biting. An open bite can be caused by habits such as thumb sucking. Orthodontic treatment will often result in the improvement of the bite.
