Malocclusion means having crooked teeth or a misaligned bite. Your bite is the way that your upper and lower teeth line up with each other. A normal bite is when the upper teeth are slightly forward of the lower teeth. It is very unusual for someone to have a perfect bite. Our dentist is proud to treat malocclusion in Salinas, California. Orthodontic treatments, like braces, aligners, and retainers, can correct malocclusion.

People with malocclusion may not like the way that their smile looks. It may even negatively affect their self-esteem. Malocclusion does not only affect the appearance of your smile, but its health as well. Crooked teeth are hard to maintain, which can lead to tooth decay, or even tooth loss. Severe malocclusion can cause problems with eating and speaking. Malocclusion is usually the result of the shape or size of one’s jaw or teeth. Having too much or too little room in the jaw can cause problems. If the jaw is too small, the teeth will grown in crowded or crooked. On the flip side, if there is too much room in the jaw, the teeth tend to drift out of place.

To learn more and to schedule your next visit, contact Ross Family Dental today.