Some orthodontic conditions requiring braces include:
Gaps Between Teeth
Gaps between the teeth allow food particles to get stuck more easily and can also cause abnormal jaw growth or gum recession.
Overbite
Overbite occurs when the top teeth are too far forward to make contact with the lower teeth correctly. This can be caused by thumb or finger sucking or simply by genetics or specific bone development patterns.
Underbite
Crossbite
In a healthy bite, the outside ridge of the lower teeth will make contact with the middle of the upper teeth. A crossbite occurs when some edges of the lower teeth are outside of the upper arch of teeth. It can be caused by the misalignment of the upper and lower jaws and can cause unhealthy wear patterns on the teeth, gum disease, and bone loss.
Open Bite
An open bite may occur when several upper and lower teeth do not make contact with each other, making it difficult to bite or chew and sometimes interfering with speech. This malocclusion may be caused by thumb or finger sucking, genetics, or specific bone development patterns.
Excessive Crowding
Overcrowding occurs when there is not enough space in the mouth for all of the teeth to fit with the correct alignment. It is essential to address overcrowding because crowded or crooked teeth can make it difficult to brush and floss to maintain oral health. Failure to correct crowded teeth may result in increased gum disease and tooth decay, or the teeth may become more crooked over time.