Different Bites That Could Be Affecting Your Oral Health

How is your bite? Did you know that only about 30 to 40 percent of the population have what’s considered a perfect bite? The rest of us suffer from some kind of malocclusion, in which don’t meet the way they should and sometimes don’t meet at all. Everyone’s bite is uniquely their own, but there are some general types of bites that could be affecting your oral health.

• If you have a crossbite, your upper teeth fit inside your lower teeth. Sometimes only a single tooth is affected, but crossbite can also affect a group of teeth, or all of your teeth. Sometimes, different parts of your upper teeth hit different parts of your lower teeth, coming down in front and behind them. This can cause the jaw to shift to one side and can wear down your enamel.
• With an underbite, the lower jaw protrudes in front of the upper jaw. This can give a person a bulldog appearance, and it can put unnecessary stress on the joints in the jaw.
• When a person has an overbite, the top teeth protrude in front of the lower teeth. While the upper teeth are supposed to be a little bit in front of the lower teeth, when they are too far in front it can create a bucktoothed look. In the case of a deep bite, the upper teeth can completely cover the bottom teeth. In extreme cases, the teeth can dig into the gums, raising the risk of gum disease.
• An open bite, just as it sounds, means the upper and lower teeth do not meet when the jaw is closed. This can happen because of tongue thrusting or mouth breathing, and it can cause swallowing problems or speech problems if it’s not corrected.
• If your teeth are crowded, this means they’re too close together. The problem may be that you have a small mouth, or perhaps large teeth, but whatever the case, it results in teeth that are twisted, overlapping, or trapped. Crowded teeth are difficult to clean, raising your risk of cavities and gum disease.
• When teeth have too much room, dentists talk about spacing. If you have undersized teeth, oversized jaws, missing teeth, or a combination of these factors, you might have spacing issues.
• Misalignment is a vague term that means your teeth are crooked. If your dentist says you have a misalignment, you may not have as severe a problem as people with some of these other types of bites, but your teeth simply don’t quite fit together. Fortunately, your dentist or orthodontist can help you get them back in line.

When you’re ready to fix your bite, choose the practice that was voted best dentist in NYC! At Park 56 Dental Group, we offer pediatric, prosthodontics, endodontics, oral surgery, Invisalign®, emergency, and sedation dentistry, all at the highest level of treatment. We serve the Midtown, Central Park, Upper East Side, Park Avenue, and all surrounding Manhattan and New York areas, with a patient-centered practice that has hours to fit your schedule. Schedule your complimentary consultation today by contacting us online or calling us at (212) 826-2322.