Types of Bite: what problems are there?

Types of Bite: what problems are there?

Bite problems or dental malocclusions are not only an aesthetic issue.

Although many adult patients come to our clinic for this reason, the truth is that having an aligned smile is also a question of functionality.

In fact, a large part of the population is not aware of the consequences that can result from having different occlusion problems.

The way we bite determines to a large extent our facial structure, so a malocclusion affects us in different aspects.

Among others, the way we breathe, the hours of rest at night and even bring overloads and muscular discomfort or headaches.

 

 

Bite problems: what are the consequences for our health?
Do you have headaches when you wake up every morning? Do you notice certain difficulties when chewing? Have you noticed how your teeth have suffered some wear lately?

You may not know it, but these can be clear symptoms derived from different bite problems.

And the fact is that the occlusion problems that we will detail below have various consequences for dental health and the general condition of the people who suffer from them.

Among them, we can highlight:

Jaw, cervical, head and ear pains.

Discomfort when chewing and swallowing.

Respiratory difficulties

Wear of the dental pieces or existence of fissures in the dental pieces.

In addition, bite disorders can lead to poorer access to oral hygiene.

As a consequence, there is a higher risk of suffering periodontal diseases – gingivitis or periodontitis – or carious lesions.

Now that you know the extent to which these occlusion problems can occur, you need to know what they are and which treatment is the most appropriate in each case.

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PORCELAIN AND METAL BRACKETS
Types of bite problems
We can establish three different types of bite problems depending on the plane in which this malocclusion is observed.

Malocclusions in the anteroposterior plane

In the vertical plane

Bite problems in the transverse plane

First visit to the orthodontist
In order to correct bite problems in time, the first visit with this specialist is indicated at the age of 6 years.

Malocclusions in the anteroposterior plane
Among them, we can distinguish mandibular retrognathism -class II- and mandibular prognathism -also known as class III-.

Mandibular retrognathism or class II
Mandibular retrognathism -or class II- occurs when the upper jaw shows a markedly more advanced position than the lower jaw.

In this case, the teeth of both arches do not make contact when closing the mouth.

In general, its origin is usually linked to genetic factors as long as there is a family history of this bite alteration.

However, bad habits during the bone formation stage also have an influence.

Some of them are thumb sucking or using the pacifier for too long in the first months and years of life.

If the jaw grows too much there is a high probability that the child will develop retrognathism.

This bite problem has several health consequences.

These include discomfort when chewing and swallowing food, difficulties in pronouncing all sounds properly, sleep apnea or jaw pain.

Mandibular prognathism or class III
On the other hand, mandibular prognathism -also known as class III- is a bite problem caused by an exacerbated development of the mandible in relation to the upper jaw.

The former acquires, therefore, a forward position with respect to the latter.

Like retrognathism, its origin is also related to the existence of a family history.

But we can also distinguish two other factors that are considered as causes of prognathism:

Premature fall of the primary molars.

This can influence mandibular development and favor the incidence of prognathism.

Syndromes or diseases

The prognathism is associated with different syndromes or diseases caused by alterations in the functioning of the pituitary gland or hypophysis.

We are talking about conditions such as gigantism or hypopituitarism.

Mandibular prognathism has numerous associated consequences for the general state of health.

It causes phonation problems, makes chewing difficult and causes overloading of the temporomandibular joint and headaches.

On the esthetic level, it greatly affects the facial structure and can have great repercussions on people’s self-esteem.

Open bite in children
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PACIFIER USE
Vertical malocclusion
Within this type of malocclusion, we can distinguish open bite and overbite, as well as facial asymmetries.

What is open bite?
Open bite is an occlusion problem that occurs when, when closing the mouth, the teeth of both arches do not make contact with each other.

We can distinguish two types of open bite:

Anterior open bite occurs when, when closing the mouth, it is the central teeth of both arches that do not make contact.

On the other hand, the posterior open bite is characterized by the lack of contact between the molars of the upper and lower arches.

Of varying cause, open bite is often associated with genetic factors, as well as various habits acquired at very early stages during which the facial bones are developing.

Apart from thumb sucking, a risk factor is pressing the tongue against the teeth or breathing through the mouth instead of the nose.

What is an overbite?
An overbite is when the teeth of the upper arch cover at least two-thirds of the teeth of the lower arch.

In fact, in the most severe cases, they can cover all of the lower teeth.

The overbite is often a consequence of mandibular retrognathism.

This bite problem is often associated with crowding problems and greater difficulty in accessing hygiene in all the little nooks and crannies of the mouth.

For this reason, people with an overbite are more prone to dental caries or periodontal disease.

Since the occlusal forces are not properly distributed throughout the dentition, overloading of the temporomandibular joint is common.

Overbite is usually a consequence of retrognathism and is conducive to periodontal disease or dental caries.

Facial asymmetries
Asymmetries generate many bite problems and dental wear, in addition to negatively affecting the esthetics of the person.

Looking at the vertical plane, we will be faced with a case of facial asymmetry when the maxilla or mandible have not developed harmoniously on both sides of the face.

Malocclusions in the transverse plane
Within these problems, we can include cases of crossbite and scissor bite.

What is crossbite?
Crossbite can have a skeletal or dental origin.

It occurs when the maxilla is narrower than the mandible.

In these cases, when biting, some parts of the upper arch are positioned behind those of the lower arch.

People who suffer from it may have difficulties in biting and chewing food, as well as lesions in the teeth and even in the gums.

Its causes are to be found in genetic factors as well as in other habits acquired during the first years of childhood.

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Scissor bite
Scissor bite implies that the upper arch teeth protrude more than they should and do not contact the teeth of the lower arch.

Crossbite and scissor bite
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MALOCCLUSIONS IN THE TRANSVERSE PLANE
How to solve bite problems?
The optimal bite is the one identified with the so-called Class I.

In these cases, the jaw and bite have grown harmoniously and the bite is correct.

This means that the teeth of the upper arch fit properly with those of the lower arch.

Treatments aimed at correcting the different types of bite are aimed at achieving a Class I bite.

The age of the patient is a key factor in determining the most appropriate treatment to correct the different malocclusions described above.

Specialists insist heavily on this aspect: early intervention is of vital importance when correcting alterations in the growth of the maxillary bones.

If these bite problems are detected at an early age, orthodontists can prescribe interceptive orthodontic treatment.

Thanks to the use of different appliances, it will be possible to act directly on the facial bones to correct alterations in their growth.

However, if these malocclusions are detected at an adult age, the treatment is more complex.

In these cases, the patient should opt for a combined treatment of orthodontics and orthognathic surgery.

This corrects both malpositions and alterations of the bony and dental bases.

Experience with combined orthodontic and orthognathic surgery treatment

If you have any questions regarding bite problems, do not hesitate to contact our clinic.

We invite you to make a free first appointment with our orthodontic team to evaluate your case.

We look forward to seeing you!

If you need our doctors to assess the state of your oral health, don’t let it pass you by and make an appointment.

Call us at +1 619 372 5409 🇺🇸 +52 664 590 8321 🇲🇽 , or use the contact form on our website, and ask for your first free appointment.

We will give you a complete diagnosis and an estimate without obligation.

 

 

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