Affordable Orthodontic Care in Las Vegas
At the Orthodontic Clinic at UNLV, our mission is to make the highest quality orthodontic care available and affordable to patients of every background. We believe that a healthy smile should be available to anyone, which is why our doctors, staff, and highly trained residents work hard to meet the unique orthodontic needs of every patient - whether through Invisalign, traditional braces, or any other service we offer.
There are a number of common problems that can arise from what is called a 'bad bite' or 'malocclusion.' Essentially, this is when a person's teeth or jaws do not fit together properly. If left untreated, malocclusions can cause serious impairment to the health, aesthetics, and function of a smile. Thankfully, we here at UNLV treat conditions like these every day. You can see some of the amazing smile transformations on our Before and After page and in the meantime learn more about common orthodontic problems below.
Underbite
An underbite is characterized by the lower teeth extending out past the upper teeth, causing the upper teeth to sit inside the lower teeth.
Crossbite
Crossbite happens when a patients jaw moves to the side or front when closing, causing the upper teeth to sit inside the lower teeth. This can lead to tooth stratification, misaligned jaw growth, and facial asymmetry.
Upper Front Teeth Protrusion
This is when the upper teeth extend too far forward or the lower teeth don't extend forward enough, and can affect both the appearance and function of the teeth.
Overbite
Although normally the upper teeth sit just outside the lower teeth, in an overbite the upper teeth extend too far past the lower teeth and can sometimes cause the lower teeth to bite into the roof of the mouth. This can cause what is known as a "gummy smile," protruding lips, or excessive incisor wear.
Crowding
Crowding is one of the most common reasons for braces, characterized by teeth having insufficient room when erupting from the gums. In addition to distorting the aesthetics of a smile, crowding has been linked to periodontal problems and dental decay, as it's much more difficult to clean the overlapping tooth surfaces.
Spacing
Another common reason for braces, spacing issues can be caused by missing teeth or may only be a cosmetic issue. Most commonly, spacing problems occur when there's too much room in the jaw for erupting teeth.
Openbite
An openbite occurs when the top and bottom front teeth do not overlap. This can lead to a number of undesirable habits including tongue thrusting and thumb sucking. We recommend an early evaluation and intervention for correcting an openbite so none of the issues get worse.
Dental Midlines not Matched
Mismatched dental midlines are characterized by the back bite fitting and matching improperly, which, if left untreated, can cause problems with jaw growth and dental function.
Contact Your Las Vegas Orthodontic Clinic
If you have more questions about your dental health or believe you may have any of these problems, feel free to contact us or schedule an appointment at our Las Vegas, NV office using our easy online form. We can't wait to hear from you, and until then, be sure to take care of your teeth!