Dental occlusion is how your upper and lower teeth meet when your mouth is closed, often called your “bite.” This alignment is crucial for oral health. Understanding proper tooth fit and what happens when it’s off is fundamental to a healthy mouth.
Understanding a Healthy Bite
A healthy dental bite involves a precise relationship between the upper and lower teeth. When the mouth is closed, the upper teeth should slightly overlap the lower teeth, covering about one-third of their length. This overlap is necessary for proper function and protects teeth from excessive wear. The pointed cusps of the upper teeth should fit into the grooves between two opposing lower teeth, distributing chewing forces evenly.
This alignment extends to the back molars, which should interlock efficiently, like gears, for effective chewing and grinding. This precise contact ensures pressure is distributed uniformly across the dental arches. A balanced bite supports efficient chewing, aiding digestion, and clear speech. It also helps maintain the health of the temporomandibular joints (TMJ) by preventing undue strain.
When the Bite Is Misaligned
When upper and lower teeth do not align correctly, this is called malocclusion, or a “bad bite.” Malocclusion means teeth do not properly fit together when the mouth is closed, often stemming from crowded or crooked teeth, or misaligned jaws. Malocclusions are categorized by how teeth and jaws relate.
One common type is an overbite, where upper front teeth overlap lower teeth excessively. This can be due to a smaller lower jaw or other factors. Conversely, an underbite occurs when lower teeth extend beyond the upper front teeth, often from the lower jaw protruding forward.
A crossbite happens when some upper teeth fit inside the lower teeth instead of outside them. This can affect front or back teeth, on one or both sides. An open bite is a lack of contact between upper and lower teeth, leaving a gap even when the mouth is closed. Crowding involves insufficient space, causing teeth to be rotated, crooked, or overlapping. Spacing, or diastema, refers to gaps between teeth, often from missing or small teeth.
Recognizing and Correcting Bite Problems
Individuals might notice several signs suggesting a bite issue. Misaligned teeth are a direct indicator, appearing crooked, gapped, or overlapping. Difficulty or discomfort when biting or chewing food is a frequent symptom, as teeth may not meet effectively. Speech difficulties, such as lisping, can also arise due to improper tooth alignment.
Other signs of a misaligned bite include jaw pain, headaches, and discomfort in facial muscles. Some individuals experience unusual wear on tooth enamel, as uneven pressure points cause teeth to rub improperly. Frequent biting of the inner cheeks or tongue also signals a potential issue. A dental professional diagnoses these issues through examination, which may include dental impressions, X-rays, and photographs.
Correcting bite problems involves dental treatments to realign teeth and jaws. Orthodontic treatments, like braces or clear aligners, gradually shift teeth into proper positions. Specialized dental appliances might guide jaw growth or address specific bite mechanics. In complex situations, oral surgery may be considered to achieve a balanced occlusion. The treatment path is determined by the malocclusion’s nature and severity, aiming to restore proper function and oral health.