There are many different oral problems that can be caused by misalignment of your teeth, jaw or other surfaces of your mouth. We are going to cover a few of these different problems in this article. However, for more information we always encourage you to contact us. There is also a great resource on our website where we feature a patient’s case every week. This page is called Case of The Week and gives you an idea of the issues and treatments that you might find for your specific case. We will be exploring several different conditions in a few different articles. In this article we will be discussing crowding, Spacing issues, and open bite and some possible causes and treatments.

Crowding

This condition is a common problem that happens when teeth do not have enough room in the gum line to break out side by side. This can cause a very “sharky” looking smile that because of teeth that are situated above the gum line. Cavities can also be a problem with crowding because of difficulty reaching all the spaces between teeth with brushing and flossing. However, this condition can often be fixed easily by applying orthodontic braces that move the teeth slowly, and all this is done quite often without having to remove any to make room for others.

Spacing

Large or unnecessary gaps between teeth can often be simply an aesthetic issue, in other words a issue of how the mouth and smile looks. However, there are some cases where spacing can be an issue that affects speech. This is an issue that can occur due to missing teeth as well. No matter what the root cause is for this condition, treatment is often one that can be easily resolved with braces.

Open Bite

An open bite is when the front teeth do not meet as they should as the mouth closes, leaving a gap that can cause bad habits such as tongue thrusting. It can also lead to grinding when sleeping or even when an individual tries to bite small foods with their front teeth. This is because of a person trying to compensate for the condition. This is a condition can also be treated easily with braces and elastics and proper adjustments as needed.

Of course, there are many other conditions that we here at Burrow Welchel & Culp Orthodontics see and treat every day. There will be more articles that will detail other conditions coming in the near future. If you have any questions about this or any other issues with your and your family orthodontic care we are always here. We strive to keep you informed and ready to make the plans and decisions that you need to for your family’s orthodontic care.

Come back soon to see what new and exciting happening and information we have in store for all of us in the future. You can also read our other blog articles and find lots resources to learn more about Burrow Welchel & Culp Orthodontics and its doctors, staff and patients.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Dr Sam Burrow D.D.S., D.M.D. – Dr. Burrow was born in Charlotte and moved to Charleston to obtain a Bachelors of Science in Biology at the College of Charleston. He graduated magna cum laude and as a member of Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society, and then stayed to earn a D.M.D. with honors at the Medical University of South Carolina. Dr. Burrow completed his orthodontic residency at University of Detroit Mercy in Michigan and is now in practice with his father at Burrow Welchel & Culp Orthodontics in the Charlotte area.