Common Orthodontic Conditions and Treatments

We offer various orthodontic treatments to improve your dental health, from the foundation of your jawbones to the position and appearance of each individual tooth, and everything in between.

Our patients often come to us with common orthodontic problems, such as crowded teeth, open bites, overbites, underbites, teeth spacing, overjets and missing lateral incisors. Depending on the severity and specific form of your condition, Dr. King will use his extensive experience to suggest the most effective and efficient treatment option for you.

Here are some common orthodontic conditions we treat:

Crowded Teeth

Crowded teeth occur when there’s not enough room in a person’s mouth for all of their teeth to fit normally, causing the teeth to be forced out of position, clustered and overlapping.

To correct crowded teeth, Dr. King  might suggest a form of braces such as traditional, metal braces or Invisalign® clear braces depending on the patient’s unique dental formation. Adult braces, clear braces and metal braces can redirect the teeth to sit properly in alignment with each other.

Open Bite

Open bites, often caused by thumb sucking or pacifier sucking, refers to a condition in which the upper teeth and lower teeth protrude outward causing a major misalignment when the jaw is closed. In this condition, the front teeth and bottom teeth will not meet.

To correct this condition, Dr. King might suggest either metal braces or Invisalign® clear braces. In some cases, the patient is given a “crib” appliance to prevent further damaging thumb-sucking/pacifier-sucking behavior.

Overbite

An overbite condition is characterized by the upper jaw overlapping the lower jaw. This condition can be caused by destructive habits, such as thumb-sucking and pacifier-sucking, and oftentimes caused by genetics.

Overbite correction can be accomplished with growth modification appliances, metal braces or Invisalign® clear braces if detected early on before serious progression. Surgery will become necessary if this condition is left untreated for years.

Underbite

Similar to an overbite, the underbite condition is characterized as a misalignment in the jaw and teeth. The opposite of an overbite, the underbite causes the lower jaw to overlap the top jaw. Once again, this condition is often caused by genetics.

If the underbite condition is not too far advanced, it can be corrected with growth modification appliances and braces treatment (metal braces or clear braces) to realign the jaw. If this condition remains untreated, the patient will require surgery to reverse years of misaligned growth.

Spacing of Teeth

Noticeable gaps between the teeth affect both adults and children alike. Spaces between the teeth are often related to the size of the jaw bone, relative to the size of the teeth. When the teeth are significantly less proportionate to the jaw bone, spacing between the teeth often occurs. To correct this condition, Dr. King offers braces (metal, Invisalign® and clear braces) as well as retainers to hold the teeth together and keep the spaces closed.

Overjet

The overjet condition is one characterized by the top teeth protruding over the bottom teeth in a “buck-tooth” manor, often caused by an underdeveloped lower jaw. Growth modification appliances and braces (metal braces and Invisalign® clear braces) may be prescribed to push the lower jaw forward and align it with the upper jaw. If the upper jaw is at fault, then we retract the upper jaw to align with the lower jaw.

Missing Lateral Incisors

This condition is characterized by missing lateral incisors, the two teeth on either side of both front teeth. When these two incisors are missing, genetics is most likely to blame.

Depending on the severity of the condition and varying factors such as the patient’s jaw size and growth pattern, an affordable braces treatment of clear braces or metal braces may be suggested to guide the teeth into proper formation.

It’s important to catch these conditions early to avoid further dental complications or the need for surgery to correct serious issues. Most of these conditions can be prevented by early detection. Depending on the condition and its severity, metal braces and Invisalign® clear braces are often administered to correct the issue. If the condition is far progressed, we offer other treatment options to set your teeth straight once and for all.
Schedule a consultation with Dr. King today at our Jupiter, Florida office. Or give us a call to evaluate your unique dental condition and your treatment options.