When your upper teeth sit slightly forward over your bottom teeth, this
is considered to be a normal fit. If your
dentist tells you that you have a malocclusion, this means that your teeth lack
a proper fit. There are many types of malocclusions but, here, you’ll
find a few of the most common ones described.

Spacing or Crowding
When there is too much space between an individual’s teeth, dentists
describe this as a spacing malocclusion. On the other hand, a patient’s
mouth can be too small for their teeth, causing them to crowd together.
Both of these issues can have an effect on a person’s oral health
and, in the case of overcrowding, can demand the need for a tooth extraction
to make more space.
Upper Protrusion
Sometimes referred to by dentists as an overjet, an upper protrusion occurs
when a person’s front upper teeth stick outward. This malocclusion
can be caused by a small lower jaw, thumb-sucking, or pacifier use.
Overbite
Although it’s normal for a person’s upper front teeth to sit
over and in front of the lowers ones, when the overlap is too large, this
is referred to as an overbite. In a severe case of this type of malocclusion,
the patient’s lower teeth to hit the roof of the mouth.
Underbite
In a normal bite, a person’s upper teeth reach farther forward than
their lower ones. When a patient has an underbite, this means that their
lower front teeth are farther forward than their upper ones.
Open Bite
When a person has an open bite, this means that when they close their mouth
and their top and bottom molars are touching, the front teeth fail to
overlap, leaving an open gap between the top and bottom.
If you’re looking for an experienced and compassionate dentist serving
New York, then
Dr. Charles Marks can help. To learn about our preventative care services or to schedule
an appointment, please give us a call today at (212) 279-1232.