What is malocclusion? How does it affect tooth function and facial aesthetics?

The article is professionally consulted by Doctor of Dental - Jaw - Facial - Department of Medical Examination & Internal Medicine - Vinmec Hai Phong International General Hospital.

Misalignment of the bite is one of the common oral health problems, not only affecting the chewing function of the teeth but also losing the aesthetics of the face.

Bite is the relationship between the two jaws and the upper - lower teeth, including the proportion and contact area at rest and when chewing of the teeth as well as of the jawbone. Normally, the teeth must meet the standard of balance and are beautiful between the two jaws to be considered a standard bite.
Misaligned bite is the eccentricity of the upper and lower teeth or the upper and lower jaws do not bite tightly together, the teeth on the jaw are misaligned and out of alignment, affecting the aesthetics. of the face, difficulty in eating, chewing, and pronunciation.

Types of malocclusion:
Overbite (underbite) is a serious form of malocclusion because the lower jaw bone grows too long, forwards too much, and the upper jaw bone is too short. If you look at it sideways, you will see that the lower lip sticks out completely compared to the upper lip, in cases of severe underbite, the chin is also protruded completely. This condition not only makes the face unbalanced but also adversely affects the movement of the jaw. A deep bite is an imbalance of the upper and lower jaws caused by a misaligned bite that causes the lower jaw to "fall out" and hide deep in the upper jaw. When looking at the side, it can be seen that the lower jaw is largely hidden, the correlation of the three parts of the forehead, nose, and chin is like a person with a protrusion. People with a deep bite will have difficulty chewing food. Crossbite does not show on the face but only when smiling. To recognize a cross bite is not difficult, because normally all teeth and interdental spaces will be in balance and harmony with each other, but people with a cross bite cause the teeth to be displaced, and the indentation is not in order. , don't know if it's big or bad. An open bite is one of the most serious deviations of the bite, this condition greatly affects the aesthetics and function of both teeth. Due to the open incisor group, the tongue can be seen even when the teeth are closed in a normal resting state. The group of teeth in the two jaws cannot touch each other, creating a gap that makes it difficult for the patient to bite and chew food.

Identify if the bite is misaligned or not through the following signs:
See the link between the teeth, especially when biting down, there is a difference. Frequently biting the inner cheek or tongue when chewing or talking. Discomfort when chewing and biting food, jaw fatigue when chewing. Has problems with pronunciation and difficult, non-standard speech. Difficulty closing the mouth and closing the jaw, even often breathing through the mouth instead of the nose.

Misaligned bite can originate from many causes: genetics (accounting for 70%), early loss of baby teeth, habits such as thumb sucking, tongue thrusting, long-term pacifier use, etc. push the teeth to erupt in the wrong position, leading to misalignment of the bite.

The consequences of malocclusion can affect human psychology and aesthetics. Humans can adapt to misalignment of teeth to some extent, but people with malocclusion will have difficulty chewing and speaking.
Similarly, in some cases, severe misalignment will have a marked effect on pronunciation such as open bite, low grip tongue brake. In particular, misaligned teeth also make the jaw muscles overactive, causing muscle spasms, leading to temporomandibular joint dysfunction with pain in or around the temporomandibular joint.
Misaligned bite is the cause that makes teeth very susceptible to trauma, periodontal diseases, and tooth decay. In the case of tooth decay, if not treated, it will be easy to injure the upper front teeth due to impact, break the tooth, and die. In addition, misaligned bite also makes oral hygiene more difficult, from which teeth are prone to decay and periodontal diseases.
Vinmec Times City is the treatment of choice for malocclusion treatment for patients with bite problems. With a scientific examination process, transparent planning and surgery, modern facilities, but also a team of experienced doctors and nurses, who are intensively trained in surgical techniques for malocclusion.