Abnormal Eruption
Abnormal eruption happens when a tooth comes through the gum in the wrong position. It's often linked to timing issues — baby teeth staying in too long, or adult teeth coming in too early.
Can lead to:
- Upper and lower teeth that don't align properly (malocclusion)
- Crowded or crooked teeth
- Ongoing pain or pressure, including sensitivity to hot and cold
Crossbite (Back Teeth)
A posterior crossbite typically develops from a narrow upper jaw or an unusually wide lower jaw. When the upper jaw is constricted, patients often shift their lower jaw forward or sideways just to bite comfortably — landing the lower teeth outside the upper teeth.
Can lead to:
- Lower jaw sitting in an incorrect position
- Facial asymmetry
- Uneven tooth wear
Crossbite (Front Teeth)
A front crossbite occurs when one or more upper teeth sit behind the lower teeth instead of in front. It's often genetic, but can also stem from delayed or abnormal tooth eruption.
Can lead to:
- Speech difficulties
- Uneven wear and disrupted jaw growth
- Loosened teeth from damage to surrounding bone and gum tissue
Crowding
Crowding is one of the most frequent reasons people seek orthodontic care. It usually comes down to a mismatch between the space available in the jaw and the size of the teeth.
Can lead to:
- A less balanced-looking smile
- Poorly aligned teeth
- Gum and periodontal issues
- Higher risk of decay, since crowded teeth are harder to floss and clean
Open Bite
An open bite means the upper and lower front teeth don't touch when the jaw is closed. It's most often caused by habits like thumb sucking or tongue thrusting. Catching this early makes a real difference in treatment success.
Can lead to:
- Extra wear on the back teeth
- Difficulty chewing effectively
- Trauma where the back teeth of the upper and lower jaws meet
Overbite (Deep Bite)
An overbite is a vertical overlap between the upper and lower front teeth, usually tied to a difference in upper and lower jaw length. A small overbite (1-2mm) is normal — a deep overbite is a much more pronounced overlap.
Can lead to:
- Over-eruption of the upper and/or lower front teeth
- Excess gum tissue showing when smiling
- Lips that protrude or get caught between the teeth
- Biting into the roof of the mouth
Overjet (Protrusion)
Overjet describes how far the upper front teeth stick out past the lower front teeth. It can be caused by thumb or finger habits, a lower jaw that hasn't grown enough, tooth angulation issues, or a mismatch in arch length.
Can lead to:
- Self-consciousness about appearance
- Trouble biting and chewing
- Injury risk to the upper front teeth
- Premature wear on the back teeth
- Reduced airway space
Spacing
Gaps between teeth are, like crowding, often a tooth-to-jaw size mismatch. A tight band of gum tissue (the frenum) between the front teeth is another common cause.
Can lead to:
- Unusually narrow or atypical-looking teeth
- Missing teeth
- Impacted teeth
Underbite
An underbite is when the lower jaw and teeth sit forward of the upper jaw. It can stem from genetics, jaw growth abnormalities, or misaligned tooth positioning.
Can lead to:
- Jaw and joint pain
- Accelerated enamel wear
- Difficulty biting into food
- Changes in facial structure and appearance
- Speech interference
- Misaligned teeth