What are malocclusions?

Whether at a young age or later in life, you’ve probably suffered from some sort of malocclusion.

Here’s what it means. 

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What is malocclusion?

Malocclusion is a condition where upper and/or lower teeth are not properly aligned. The contact between both levels becomes irregular and can cause several underlying problems. Some cases, though, are minor enough to not need treatment while others require special orthodontic care. The three main causes behind malocclusions are:

• Inconsistency between sizes of both teeth and jaws
• Thumb sucking or tongue thrusting
• Missing teeth

Now, moving on to the different categories of malocclusions:

• Teeth crowding (Class I): caused by a lack of space in the mouth, leading teeth to twist or move out of place.
• Teeth spacing (Class I): mainly caused by thumb sucking or tongue thrusting.
• Overbite (Class II): when the lower jaw is pushed too far back and closes behind the upper teeth.
• Underbite (Class III): when the lower jaw protrudes to the front and closes over the upper teeth.

If any of the conditions above become severe and are left untreated, problems may arise such as jaw pain and difficulties chewing/speaking.

How it started

According to Science Daily, experts traced malocclusions back to early farmers in Southwest Asia – some 12,000 years ago. Before that, our ancestors rarely suffered from this condition; their jaws were larger in size, which meant there was more space to accommodate all their teeth, leading to a better bite (or occlusion). However, with time, genetic mutations and dietary changes modified the anatomy of the human jaw – making it shrink significantly in size. As a result, one in five people suffer from some sort of malocclusion today.

Treating malocclusions

At Basma, we treat mild to moderate cases of teeth crowding and spacing (Class I)*. Thanks to our clear aligner treatment, your teeth will gently shift into proper alignment over an average period of 6 months- depending on your case. Naturally, practicing proper dental hygiene on a daily basis should accompany any treatment to guarantee the best results.

Often times,  people who wore braces see their teeth get displaced as they grow older; this happens when they don’t wear their retainers regularly after a braces treatment. Our aligners can resolve that issue discretely. However, before starting your Basma treatment, you’ll need to get a full dental checkup at your doctor’s to ensure no underlying problems would disrupt your smile journey with us.

*Our aligner treatment is not designed to fix bite problems of Classes II & III. They can treat mild to moderate cases of Class I (crowding and spacing). In all cases, though, having aligned teeth offers many health benefits.