Most orthodontic problems fall into a handful of categories: not enough room, too much room, the upper and lower teeth meeting in the wrong relationship, or teeth that are not coming in properly. This page explains what each one looks like, why it matters beyond appearance, and when it is worth having examined. Examinations at The Orthodontic Gallery in Riverview are free.
You do not need to diagnose yourself before you call us. But knowing the words helps: it makes the conversation at your appointment a real one rather than a lecture.
Signs Worth Having Looked At
Before the terminology, here is what people actually notice at home.
Teeth visibly crowded or overlapping. Difficulty biting into food or chewing. A jaw that shifts to one side when closing. Biting the inside of a cheek or the roof of the mouth. Baby teeth lost much earlier or later than a sibling’s. Thumb sucking past age five. A jaw that clicks or catches. Front teeth that stick out noticeably. Breathing through the mouth persistently while awake.
Any of those is reason enough to book an examination. None is a diagnosis on its own.
Overjet
Different from overbite, and often confused with it. Overjet is how far the upper front teeth sit forward of the lower ones, measured horizontally. Prominent upper front teeth are considerably more prone to being chipped or broken in a fall or a sports collision.
Overbite
The upper front teeth cover too much of the lower ones when the back teeth are together. A deep overbite can wear the lower teeth down over years, and in severe cases the lower teeth contact the palate.
Crossbite
Some upper teeth sit inside the lower ones instead of outside. It can affect the front teeth, the back teeth, or one side only. A crossbite often makes the jaw shift sideways to find a comfortable bite, and in a growing child that shift can become built in. In an adult it usually needs expansion.
Open bite
The front teeth do not touch when the back teeth are closed, leaving a gap you can see through. Frequently associated with a prolonged thumb or pacifier habit, or with tongue posture.
Crowding
Not enough room in the jaw for the teeth, so they overlap, twist, or get pushed out of line. The most common orthodontic problem there is. Crowded teeth are harder to clean, which makes decay and gum inflammation more likely.
Spacing
The opposite. Gaps between teeth, either because the teeth are small relative to the jaw or because a tooth is missing. A gap between the upper front teeth is called a diastema.
Underbite
The lower teeth sit in front of the upper ones. Usually a skeletal pattern rather than a tooth position, which is why it is the hardest category to treat. Class III patterns like this affect roughly one patient in ten and often involve the jaw bones rather than just the teeth, so treating them well may mean early growth modification in a child or surgical coordination in an adult.
Other Cases We Treat
Midline mismatch
The center line between the upper front teeth does not match the lower one. Often a sign of an underlying asymmetry rather than a problem in itself.
Impacted or ectopic teeth
A permanent tooth that is stuck, or coming in at the wrong angle. Upper canines are the usual culprits. Catching this early is much simpler than dealing with it later, which is one of the arguments for an evaluation around age seven. See early treatment.
Why These Matter Beyond Appearance
Straightness is the visible part, but it is rarely the clinical reason to treat. Crowded teeth trap plaque in places a brush cannot reach. Deep bites wear enamel away permanently. Crossbites load the jaw joint unevenly. Prominent front teeth get broken. Most are correctable with braces or clear aligners.
Equally, plenty of imperfect bites are healthy and will stay that way. An orthodontist worth seeing says so. Being told nothing needs doing is a normal outcome of an examination here.