It’s not an understatement to declare that orthodontics is a miraculous, multitasking modality when it comes to solving a plethora of problems with your smile!
Dr. Wayne Hickory and the Embassy Row Orthodontics team serve patients every day who seek solutions for diverse orthodontic issues. With an extraordinary combination of orthodontic expertise, in-office state-of-the-art technology, and a desire to truly connect with their patients, every patient knows that their unique situation will be honored.
Absolutely not! Though there are many different bite problems that orthodontic treatment solves, there are many other problems that treatment can resolve, but we’ll start with bite problems:
There are multiple types of bite issues — problems with how your upper and lower teeth rest on each other, but very common issues are overbites and underbites.
If your upper teeth extend beyond your lower ones, you have an overbite. This is extremely common and sometimes, if the overbite is slight, it’s not a problem. If your overbite is more severe, however, you can be set up for decay problems, jaw pain, and gum disease.
An underbite is the opposite problem, when your lower jaw extends beyond your upper jaw. This problem can strain your jaw, as well as lead to unwanted wear and tear on your teeth.
An anterior open bite means that your upper teeth actually rest within your lower teeth.
If your teeth are too close together in your mouth, you’re at risk for several oral health problems. Crowding makes your teeth harder to clean, which can lead to cavities, gum disease, chipping as a result of chewing, and even overall health problems that severe gum disease (periodontitis) is linked to, like heart disease.
The opposite problem of overcrowded teeth is when there’s a surplus of space between your teeth. These gaps pose different problems, such as making it hard to remove food debris completely. This in turn leads to gingivitis and, if left untreated, more severe gum disease.
TMJ is the acronym for a painful condition, temporomandibular joint disorder. Symptoms are quite uncomfortable, from jaw aches and facial pain to joint locking or popping. Bite problems, or malocclusions, can cause TMJ, and orthodontic treatment can help.
This condition is determined if you draw an imaginary line, starting in between your eyes and going downward, and it doesn’t end up going through the center of your rows of teeth. Instead, it goes through the surfaces of your teeth because of an alignment problem.
Dilemmas that midline misplacement present include tooth wear, jaw pain, tooth decay, and gum disease.
This condition is classic “buck teeth,” and different from an overbite. Though your upper teeth protrude past your bottom teeth, creating a horizontal gap (whereas an overbite gap is vertically oriented).
Some of the problems associated with an overjet are chipped teeth, excessive tartar accumulation and decay, and discomfort while eating.
The most common impacted teeth we hear of are wisdom teeth, but an impacted tooth is any tooth that doesn’t break through your gum and remains unexposed. Problems with impacted teeth are difficulty with opening your mouth fully, bleeding gums in the area of the tooth, bad breath, and pain while chewing.
Food is meant to be enjoyed, but if you find it hard to chew your food thoroughly, you may experience digestive problems or simply feel uncomfortable with the social aspects of sharing a meal with friends. Unfortunately, bite problems can make it hard to chew properly.
Bite problems put your mouth in awkward positions, and even affect your tongue, while where your tongue is placed while you speak can be affected by orthodontic conditions, leading to speech problems.
If your teeth are crooked, crowded and otherwise challenged, you’re not going to feel your best smiling for the camera — or any other time. When your teeth are straight, healthy and unaffected by bite and other problems, you’ll feel much better about your smile!
Dr. Hickory offers customized orthodontic solutions that solve these problems and more. You may choose traditional braces, InvisalignⓇ clear aligners, lingual braces (braces that are attached to the back of your teeth), and many more treatment options. He also determines when the best time is to start orthodontic treatment.
If you’re experiencing problems that orthodontic treatment could fix, come visit our comfortable, historic Dupont Circle office and find out what treatment options would be a great fit for you. Call our office or make an appointment online.
