Lots of people turn to orthodontic treatment as a means of achieving the confident smile they dream of. Teeth that are properly aligned help promote a healthy smile for a lifetime. By investing in orthodontic treatment, you will enjoy a future involving a beautiful smile, increased confidence and improved self-esteem.
It’s important to note that orthodontic treatment is about more than just appearances. It also is a means of correcting bite issues that can have adverse effects to the way you talk or chew your food that can lead to other oral health problems.
During your free orthodontic consultation with Dr. Reed, we will look for the following malocclusions, which may indicate that orthodontic treatment is needed.
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Protruding Upper Teeth: Excessive protrusion of the upper front teeth, commonly referred to as an overbite or bucked teeth, is the most prevalent orthodontic problem. This can be tested by placing a Popsicle stick behind the upper front teeth when you bite on your back teeth. If there is plenty of room for the stick, it is likely that you have more than two millimeters of space between the upper front teeth and the lower front teeth. In many patients, overbite is the result of a recessive lower jaw that gives a “weak chin” appearance. 
Open Bite: If you have this, you can stick your tongue between the upper and lower front teeth when the back teeth are together.
Crossbite: The upper back teeth fit inside the lower teeth, instead of the outside.
Over-jet or a Deep Bite: This condition occurs when the upper teeth cover more than one millimeter of the lower teeth. In extreme cases, the lower front teeth are covered completely by the upper front teeth when you bite down on your back teeth.
Underbite: The upper teeth fit inside the arch of the lower jaw protrudes farther than the upper jaw, which gives one the “strong chin” appearance. 
Spacing: Also called gaps, these can occur between upper or lower teeth. 
Crowding: There is not enough room for the upper or lower teeth, which causes them to overlap each other or just be to close together.
Front Teeth Alignment: The space where the two upper front teeth and the two lower front teeth meet should line up with each other and both should align with the bridge of the nose. When they don’t, it typically is because the teeth have drifted or the lower jaw has shifted, which has resulted in an improper bite. After you’ve read the above questions and match the pictures to your own teeth or jaws, you will be able to determine if you need braces.
