Handy & Handy Orthodontic Specialists

Other Problems Orthodontic Treatment Helps Correct
Lip incompetence, lip strain or protrusive lip posture Maxillary constriction or "narrow smile" Vertical maxillary excess or "gummy smile" Improperly sized teeth, either too large or too small Excessive wear of teeth Facial asymmetry Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction

Impacted Teeth
Some patients have problems losing their primary or baby teeth and getting all of their permanent teeth in because one or more of their permanent teeth are impacted or "stuck". Orthodontic treatment can often successfully erupt or help bring these teeth into the proper position.

Missing and/or Tipped Teeth
Many dental patients are congenitally missing permanent teeth or have had permanent teeth extracted due to deep cavities or other problems. Many of these patients have large residual spaces and/or tipped teeth adjacent to the spaces. Orthodontic treatment can often close these spaces or upright tipped teeth to help your dentist replace the missing teeth with more ideal bridges or implants.

Openbite
Openbite malocclusion or deficient vertical overlap of the front teeth is a less common but very significant problem. Openbites can cause important esthetic and functional bite problems that can prove challenging to correct unless treated early. The most common causes are finger sucking habits, anterior tongue posture or vertical jaw disharmony.

Deepbite
Deepbite malocclusion or excessive vertical overlap of the front teeth is very common. This bite problem can cause important esthetic and functional problems such as excessive wear of the teeth and/or biting of the palatal tissue. Deepbites often result from an improper vertical jaw relationship and/or supraeruption of the incisor teeth.

Posterior Crossbite
Posterior crossbites are one of the most recognizable orthodontic occlusal discrepancies. These bite problems very often cause significant functional problems and are sometimes associated with facial asymmetry, jaw joint discomfort and/or excessive wear of the teeth. The most common causes are a narrow palate or tipped teeth.

"Underbite"
Class III or "underbite" malocclusions can also cause significant facial esthetic and functional problems. These bite problems are most commonly caused by protrusive lower teeth or a protrusive lower jaw, or alternatively by retrusive upper teeth or a retrusive upper jaw or often some combination thereof.

Excessive "Overbite"
Class II or excessive "overbite" malocclusions can cause significant facial esthetic and functional problems. These bite problems are most commonly caused by protrusive upper teeth or a protrusive upper jaw, or alternatively by retrusive lower teeth or a retrusive lower jaw or often some combination thereof.

Spaced Teeth
Spacing of the teeth is also one of the most common reasons patients seek orthodontic treatment. Like crowding, spacing can cause esthetic, functional & dental health problems. Spacing often results from a tooth size/jaw size discrepancy or an imbalance between forces exerted by the tongue and lip musculature.

Crowded Teeth
Crowding of the teeth is the most common reason patients seek orthodontic treatment. Crowding can cause esthetic, functional & dental health problems. Though there are many possible causes, crowding usually results from a tooth size/jaw size discrepancy.

Common Problems