Personalized Orthodontics For Every Smile
We’ll take the time to walk you through your options and help you choose the approach that fits you best.
Most concerns can be treated with braces, clear aligners, specialized appliances, or airway-focused orthodontics when appropriate. No matter your needs, we’ll create a personalized treatment plan designed to support a confident, healthy smile.
Crowded Teeth
Teeth that are overlapping are considered ‘crowded’. More often than not, crowding is the result of insufficient room in the mouth. When the jaws aren’t wide enough to fit all teeth, teeth start overlapping each other as they’re emerging.
In many cases, crowded teeth can be treated with a palatal expander appliance during childhood, while the jaws are still developing.
Spacing Issues
It’s normal to have some spaces between primary teeth. However, significant gaps or spaces in children, teens or adults may result from having excess room in the jaws, congenitally missing teeth (missing certain teeth at birth), cavities or trauma, or certain childhood habits (like thumbsucking).
Underbite
With an underbite, the lower jaw extends further than the upper jaw. This condition can cause facial imbalances, pain or difficulty when chewing and speaking, and can cause teeth to wear down prematurely due to not meeting evenly.
Overbite
When the upper jaw extends further than the lower jaw, this is called an overbite. Depending on how severe the condition is, an overbite can cause jaw pain, difficulty eating and chewing, and speech issues.
In more severe cases, the lower teeth may contact the roof of the mouth, which can cause discomfort and damage over time.
Crossbite
When the upper teeth are positioned inside the lower teeth, this is called a crossbite. This may be a posterior crossbite (in the back of the mouth) or an anterior crossbite (toward the front of the mouth).
Crossbites can affect individual teeth or multiple teeth in a row. This condition may result from irregular tooth eruption, late loss of baby teeth, or thumbsucking during childhood. It can also occur due to a mismatch in the size of the upper and lower jaws.
Open Bite
If some of the top teeth don’t meet the bottom teeth when the mouth is closed, this is called an open bite. (With a healthy alignment, the top teeth overlap the bottom teeth slightly.)
An open bite may be the result of skeletal development problems and/or childhood habits, like thumbsucking and tongue-thrusting. It can be extremely challenging to chew food properly and pronounce certain words with an open bite, and the facial structure is typically affected by this condition.
Early orthodontic treatment can be especially effective for treating this condition before it progresses and leads to further challenges.
Protrusion
A protrusion, also known as an overjet condition, occurs when the front teeth protrude outward. Commonly called “buck teeth”, an overjet generally results from underdeveloped jaw bones, or thumbsucking.
Early orthodontic treatment is an effective and efficient treatment option for protrusions.
Start with a Complimentary Consultation in West Ashley
Whether you’re ready to begin treatment or just exploring your options, we make it easy for you to get answers.
All you have to do is:
- Schedule your consultation at our West Ashley orthodontic office, or start from home with a virtual consultation first.
- Visit us for a complimentary exam and a walk through your treatment options.
- We’ll help you understand your options and guide you through the next steps. No pressure, ever.