Occlusion describes the manner in which your teeth fit together. When your jaw is closed, your upper front teeth should protrude ever so slightly in front of your lower front teeth. The chewing surfaces of your teeth should also align comfortably with the chewing surfaces of their opposites. This balance helps your jaw move smoothly along its joints, and allows teeth to evenly disperse the pressure of your bite to minimize impact and avoid damage. When teeth aren’t aligned properly, a condition known as malocclusion, a patient’s bite is imbalanced, and teeth can become excessively worn from exposure to undue pressure. The jaw’s joints can also become damaged, leading to debilitating discomfort in the form of TMJ disorder. Whether you are suffering from malocclusion, need surgical orthodontics, or braces, then Los Angeles orthodontist, Dr. David Alpan, can personally design an appropriate course of treatment to correct your crooked teeth and preserve your smile’s beauty and function.
Malocclusion—Why Adults Need an Orthodontist
Other than the fact that crooked teeth can diminish a smile’s visual appeal, how much do you know about malocclusion? Many patients who seek orthodontic treatment to correct misaligned teeth are motivated by cosmetic reasons and wish to improve their confidence in their smiles. However, those who decide that crooked teeth don’t look so bad, and therefore ignore correcting them, do a great disservice to their long-term oral health. Your