Many people think of orthodontics as simply straightening teeth to make them look nice but, that's only part of the process. Reasons for orthodontic treatment may also include:

¬Improperly fitting teeth
¬Inappropriate tooth size
¬Skeletal/jaw discrepancies
¬Misaligned jaw joints (TMJ)

Conditions involving irregular facial bone formation often require orthodontic treatment. Whether the dental or skeletal imbalances are inherited or acquired, orthodontic treatment can correct the condition leaving your teeth and jaws in a healthy environment.

Why Orthodontics
WHAT ARE THE ILL EFFECTS OF A POOR BITE?

In a normal bite, the upper teeth should fit between teeth in the lower arch. This is so that when you chew the cusp tips travel between the grooves of opposing teeth. (See Fig. 1)


FIGURE 1
If teeth do not fit together in this manner, they are said to be in malocclusion. When you consider the amount of force which is produced during chewing, how the teeth fit becomes very important. Every time you chew, 760 pounds per square inch of stress is generated. Therefore, teeth in a bad bite or malocclusion continually clash against each other in a traumatic end to end relationship. This causes the teeth to wear down, loosen in their supporting bone, and eventually the teeth can be lost. (See Fig. 2)


FIGURE 2
Teeth biting on gum tissues, such as seen in severe over-and under-bites, causes the gums to recede, resulting in further loss of supporting bone structures and tooth loss. (See Fig. 3)


FIGURE 3
A poor bite places undo forces on the jaw joints pulling them out of their natural position every time the mouth closes. Pain, muscle spasms, and joint damage frequently result from such a poor bite. (See Fig. 4)


FIGURE 4
This muscle strain and joint damage often manifests itself as headaches, ringing in the ears, limited jaw opening, and other symptoms commonly known as TMJ Syndrome. Eventually, this stress on the jaw joints will cause destruction and irreversible arthritic damage to the joints.