Godeok-dong Orthodontic Clinic: What Is Malocclusion? When Is Treatment Needed?

Hello~

I’m Lee Ju-ri, the head director of Seoul Bardi Dental Clinicㅎㅎ

Many people who visit the dental clinic for orthodontic consultation often ask,

"Do I also have malocclusion?~"

If a tooth is off by just 1 mm, that is considered malocclusion.

That means all of us have some degree of malocclusion~~

Godeok-dong Orthodontic Clinic: What Is Malocclusion? When Is Treatment Needed?

Having malocclusion does not always mean treatment is necessary.

I’ve organized when orthodontic treatment should be considered!

Please see which case applies to you~~!!

What Is Malocclusion?

Simply put, it means the teeth are not aligned well~

Source: Naver Doosan Encyclopedia

It refers to a condition in which the upper and lower teeth do not fit together properly.

With malocclusion, there may be varying degrees of symptoms...

It may be cosmetically concerning..

inaccurate pronunciation

reduced chewing function

If left untreated for a long time, temporomandibular joint disorders can also occur.

Certain teeth may also wear down..

Types of Malocclusion

There are really many types of malocclusion~ Let’s look at them one by one~

1. Crowding (Crowding, Crowding)

This is the type of malocclusion patients commonly think of.

The teeth are crooked and irregular~~

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Because the teeth overlap and the alignment is poor, brushing is difficult, increasing the risk of cavities and gum disease~

2. Underbite (Underbite)

Source: Korea University Guro Hospital

What is commonly called a prognathic jaw is an underbite.

A normal bite means the upper teeth should cover the lower teeth, but in this case, the lower teeth protrude more forward than the upper front teeth~

Because the bite is reversed, it is called an underbite.

In this case, it can be difficult to cut foodㅠㅠ and it also affects facial shape, so adults usually need surgical correction.

3. Open Bite (Open Bite)

This refers to a state in which the upper and lower front teeth do not meet and remain open.

Source: Naver Knowledge Encyclopedia

It usually can occur due to habits such as pushing the tongue forward or thumb sucking!

That is why babies are weaned off pacifiers.. for this reason.

Since the upper and lower teeth do not touch at all, pronunciation is inaccurate and chewing is difficultㅠㅠ

4. Deep Bite (Deep Bite) The upper front teeth excessively cover the lower front teeth!

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So much that the lower teeth are barely visible~~

In this case, the bite is too tight and it can damage the gums!

5. Overjet (Overjet)

Many people who visit the Godeok-dong orthodontic clinic complain about protruding mouth concerns.

This refers to a case where the upper front teeth protrude more than normal.

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Usually, deep bite and overjet often occur together~~

In addition to cosmetic concerns, it can also cause functional problems such as difficulty closing the mouth or unclear pronunciation.

6. Crossbite (Crossbite)

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This is a condition where the bite is abnormally interlocked, such as some teeth being positioned forward by the upper teeth, and others being positioned forward by the lower teeth.

You can think of it as a mix of underbite and protrusion.

This causes dental asymmetry, and excessive force is applied to certain areas, which can damage the teeth~

There are really many types of malocclusion, aren’t there~??

In these cases, orthodontic treatment is needed!

The types are also classified according to the bite position!!

Malocclusion does not always require treatment in every case. However, orthodontic treatment should be considered if the following problems exist.

Even if the front teeth are crooked, if the molar bite fits well, treatment is not necessary~

It is simply not aesthetically pleasingㅠㅠ

1. When chewing function is uncomfortable

If malocclusion makes it difficult to chew food or causes you to use only one side of the teeth, orthodontic treatment may be necessary. If chewing function decreases, it can also lead to digestive problems.

2. When speech problems occur

If the teeth are not aligned evenly, pronunciation may also become difficult. Especially with open bite, where the upper and lower teeth do not touch!!!

3. When there is frequent tooth wear or jaw pain

If malocclusion causes excessive force to be applied only to certain teeth, teeth may wear down or temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ) may occur.

This shows how important balance is!

4. When confidence decreases due to cosmetic concerns

If the teeth are crooked or protruding, you may lose confidence when smiling and become socially withdrawn.

You do not need to keep covering your mouth when speaking~~ Because there is an excellent treatment called orthodontics.

5. When cavities or gum disease occur frequently

If you have crowding or overlapping teeth, brushing may not be done properly, increasing the likelihood of cavities and gum disease.

Especially when the lower front teeth are crowded... I have often seen cases where the teeth later become loose due to gum disease.

Summary

There are many types of malocclusion!!!

Finding a patient with a normal bite is actually harder Most cases fall under malocclusion~~

The question is whether this affects my life and whether it negatively affects dental health in the long term!

You need to judge whether treatment is necessary based on that.

Orthodontics is not just about straightening the teeth; it can change a person’s life 😊

This was Lee Ju-ri, the head director!!

| This post was written directly by Seoul Bardi Dental Clinic for the purpose of providing medical information and promoting the clinic in compliance with Article 56, Paragraph 1 of the Medical Advertising Act. The information provided is for reference only, and we recommend visiting a medical institution to receive guidance from medical professionals regarding symptom assessment and accurate management methods. All procedures/surgeries performed at the dental clinic may involve risks depending on the individual (inflammation, bleeding, swelling, etc.). Please make decisions only after sufficient consultation with medical professionals in advance. The treatment cases in this post were photographed with the consent of patients who completed treatment at our clinic, and the before-and-after photos were taken under the same conditions. |

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