Ideally, your teeth should fit easily within your mouth without any crowding or spacing issues. Also, none of your teeth should be rotated or twisted. Dental malocclusion refers to the abnormal alignment of upper and lower teeth ranging from crowded teeth, crossbite, underbite, overbite or open bite. The teeth won’t be able to perform their vital functions of biting and chewing effectively if they’re misaligned. Malocclusion while usually an inherited condition can also be caused in children by frequent usage of pacifier after the age of three, thumb sucking in early childhood, prolonged use of bottle feeding or mouth breathing due to tonsilitis or adenoiditis. Malocclusion can also occur in adults due to various reasons including jaw injuries, impacted teeth, poor dental care that results in improperly fitting dental fillings, crowns, or braces. Malocclusion of teeth is typically diagnosed through routine dental exams. Your dentist will examine your teeth and may perform dental X-rays to determine if your teeth are properly aligned. Depending on the severity and type of malocclusion, your orthodontist may recommend various treatments.
