It may surprise you that the majority of dental patients experience a small amount of misalignment in their bite. Many factors can contribute to a person having misaligned teeth, including genetics or bad oral habits, such as thumb sucking, teeth grinding, and poor hygiene.
Whether you’re experiencing an overbite—your upper teeth overlap your lower teeth—or an underbite—your lower teeth extend past your upper teeth—it’s essential to have a dental care professional examine your teeth and help you find the best solution to correct the issue and help you feel more confident about your smile.
What Causes Teeth to Be Misaligned
One of the primary reasons an individual will develop misaligned teeth is the result of poor jaw alignment, which can be present after birth (i.e. hereditary) or develop later from oral habits, an injury or oral health disease (e.g. Temporomandibular Joint Disorders).
Is Having Misaligned Teeth Serious?
Misaligned teeth can cause other challenges with chewing, talking, and sleeping: “The effects of jaw misalignment are physical and emotional. When the condition is severe it can interfere with eating, breathing, sleeping and speech, and cause discomfort and pain even when the jaw isn’t moving” (Colgate). An overbite may also cause a patient to develop a lisp while an overbite may wear down a person’s tooth enamel and cause tooth decay, leading to other significant oral health issues.
Over time, these issues will begin to interfere with your daily routine, interaction with others, physical health and wellness, and your confidence. If you notice you or your child’s teeth are starting to develop spaces or gaps or are becoming overcrowded or misaligned, contact Dakota Dentist for a consultation.
Can You Realign Your Teeth?
Treatment options will vary from patient to patient, but the majority of misaligned teeth cases can be corrected through professional myofunctional therapy and/or orthodontic services.
At Dakota Dental, our team will work with you to determine the severity of your misaligned teeth. From there, we’ll educate you on your available options, so you are best equipped to choose the most effective treatment plan to help reduce discomfort, protect your teeth, and give you back your confident smile.
Schedule your consultation today for more information!