Dental occlusion is the contact of the upper and lower teeth when closing the mouth. Under normal conditions, the upper teeth should slightly cover the lower teeth, ie the upper dental arch should be slightly larger than the lower. Any change in this mechanism is called dental malocclusion that can bring damage to the teeth, gums, bones, muscles, ligaments and joints.
The main types of dental occlusion are:
- Class 1 : normal occlusion, in which the upper dental arch fits perfectly with the lower dental arch;
- Class 2 : the person does not appear to have a chin because the upper dental arch is much larger than the lower arch.
- Class 3 : The chin looks very large, as the upper dental arch is much smaller than the lower dental arch.
Although in most cases, malocclusion is very mild and does not require treatment, there are cases where it is quite pronounced and it is recommended to consult a dentist to start treatment, which may include the use of devices or surgery, for example.
Main symptoms
In addition to the aesthetic alteration, the symptoms of malocclusion can be very difficult to identify as it is a problem that will arise over time and, therefore, the person will get used to it without realizing that his teeth are altered.
Thus, some signs that may indicate that there is a bad dental occlusion, are:
- Wear of the teeth, causing the teeth not to be smooth at the top;
- Difficulty in discomfort when biting or chewing;
- Frequent presence of cavities;
- Loss of one or more teeth;
- Teeth with very exposed or sensitive parts, causing much discomfort when eating cold or sweet foods;
- Headaches, pain and ringing in the ears;
- Problems in the jaw joint.
In some cases dental malocclusion may also be responsible for causing poor posture and deviations in the spine.
In most cases, the symptoms are not identified and therefore the problem of malocclusion can only be identified by a dentist during routine appointments, especially when an X-ray examination is done, for example.
Treatment for dental malocclusion
Treatment for dental malocclusion is only necessary when the teeth are too distant from their ideal position and is usually initiated with the use of orthodontic appliances to try to reposition the teeth in the correct location. The use of this type of device can vary between 6 months and 2 years, depending on the degree of malocclusion.
During treatment with the appliance, the dentist may still need to remove a tooth or put a denture, depending on the case, to allow the teeth to have the space or tension necessary to return to their ideal place.
In the more severe cases, where the mouth is very marked, the device may not be able to place the teeth in the correct place, and the dentist may advise to perform orthognathic surgery to change the shape of the bones of the face . Learn more about when and how this type of surgery is done.
