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Occlusion, in the dental realm, is contact between teeth. This relationship between teeth can also be extended to the relationship between the upper jaw, the maxilla, and the lower jaw, the mandible.
In its ideal state, with normal/perfect occlusion, the upper teeth will overlap the lower teeth, and the molars fit together perfectly like a puzzle piece. This is normally referred to as a class I bite. I have perfect occlusion, as you can see below:
Malocclusion is when the teeth do not fit together properly and there is an improper relationship between the teeth and the two jaws. As of 2020, 56% of the world population has malocclusion. There are 9 types of malocclusion:
Overcrowding:
This is when there is not enough space in the mouth/your jaws for your teeth to be in normal occlusion and is perhaps the most common cause of malocclusion.
Spacing:
This is caused by small teeth, prolonged thumb sucking, missing teeth, and tongue thrusting; it occurs between two or more teeth, leads to overcrowding, and impacts the permanent teeth eruption process in a child.
Open Bite:
This is when there is no overlap between your lower and upper teeth, causing an opening in the mouth when the patient attempts to close their mouth. If it impacts your front teeth, it is known as an anterior open bite. It can also happen on either side of the mouth, known as a posterior open bite. It is also possible for the skeletal relationship of the maxilla and mandible to cause open bite, often associated with adenoid face, and this is known as a skeletal open-face, aka long face syndrome, which you may have heard of depending how much time you spend in looksmaxxing spaces. The first image is a photo of an anterior open bite, the second is a photo of posterior open bite, and the third is a photo of a skeletal open bite/long-face syndrome.
Overjet:
This is when your top teeth protrude from your bottom teeth, and can result in chewing and speech difficulties.
Deep bite/overbite:
There is a overlap (pun intended) between this type of malocclusion and the one above, and medical literature is very inconsistent with defining some types of occlusion, so bear that in mind mentioned earlier, in normal/perfect occlusion, there should be some degree of the front teeth overlapping the bottom teeth. With an overbite, aka a deep bite, this is when the overlap is too excessive. Sometimes your teeth might bite down on your gums, or your lower front teeth might bite the roof of your mouth. Depending on the relationship of the upper and lower jaws, this may be known as a skeletal overbite, aka a Class II bite The first image is a photo of an overbite/deep bite, the second is a photo of a skeletal overbite.
Underbite:
Also known as anterior cross-bite, this is when the lower teeth protrude in front of the upper teeth. Again, depending on whether or not the relationship between the two jaws is impacted, this may be known as a skeletal class III bite. The first photo is a photo of an underbite, the second is a photo of a skeletal class III underbite.
Crossbite:
This type of bite can occur on either side of your jaw, front, or back teeth, and is when your upper teeth bite inside your lower teeth.
Diastema:
Missing Tooth:
This is also known as hypodontia, and is caused by improper teeth development or trauma, and is simply when a tooth is missing.
As I mentioned in the overbite/deepbite section, dental literature (and by extension the internet) sucks at classifying and describing a lot of these malocclusions, and this guide will probably need some revising overtime for accuracy.
References:
In its ideal state, with normal/perfect occlusion, the upper teeth will overlap the lower teeth, and the molars fit together perfectly like a puzzle piece. This is normally referred to as a class I bite. I have perfect occlusion, as you can see below:
Malocclusion is when the teeth do not fit together properly and there is an improper relationship between the teeth and the two jaws. As of 2020, 56% of the world population has malocclusion. There are 9 types of malocclusion:
Overcrowding:
This is when there is not enough space in the mouth/your jaws for your teeth to be in normal occlusion and is perhaps the most common cause of malocclusion.
Spacing:
This is caused by small teeth, prolonged thumb sucking, missing teeth, and tongue thrusting; it occurs between two or more teeth, leads to overcrowding, and impacts the permanent teeth eruption process in a child.
Open Bite:
This is when there is no overlap between your lower and upper teeth, causing an opening in the mouth when the patient attempts to close their mouth. If it impacts your front teeth, it is known as an anterior open bite. It can also happen on either side of the mouth, known as a posterior open bite. It is also possible for the skeletal relationship of the maxilla and mandible to cause open bite, often associated with adenoid face, and this is known as a skeletal open-face, aka long face syndrome, which you may have heard of depending how much time you spend in looksmaxxing spaces. The first image is a photo of an anterior open bite, the second is a photo of posterior open bite, and the third is a photo of a skeletal open bite/long-face syndrome.
Overjet:
This is when your top teeth protrude from your bottom teeth, and can result in chewing and speech difficulties.
Deep bite/overbite:
There is a overlap (pun intended) between this type of malocclusion and the one above, and medical literature is very inconsistent with defining some types of occlusion, so bear that in mind mentioned earlier, in normal/perfect occlusion, there should be some degree of the front teeth overlapping the bottom teeth. With an overbite, aka a deep bite, this is when the overlap is too excessive. Sometimes your teeth might bite down on your gums, or your lower front teeth might bite the roof of your mouth. Depending on the relationship of the upper and lower jaws, this may be known as a skeletal overbite, aka a Class II bite The first image is a photo of an overbite/deep bite, the second is a photo of a skeletal overbite.
Underbite:
Also known as anterior cross-bite, this is when the lower teeth protrude in front of the upper teeth. Again, depending on whether or not the relationship between the two jaws is impacted, this may be known as a skeletal class III bite. The first photo is a photo of an underbite, the second is a photo of a skeletal class III underbite.
Crossbite:
This type of bite can occur on either side of your jaw, front, or back teeth, and is when your upper teeth bite inside your lower teeth.
Diastema:
Missing Tooth:
This is also known as hypodontia, and is caused by improper teeth development or trauma, and is simply when a tooth is missing.
As I mentioned in the overbite/deepbite section, dental literature (and by extension the internet) sucks at classifying and describing a lot of these malocclusions, and this guide will probably need some revising overtime for accuracy.
References:
- Worldwide prevalence of malocclusion in the different stages of dentition: A systematic review and meta-analysis
- What is Occlusion in Dentistry?
- Malocclusion: Types, Causes & Effective Treatments Explained
- HOW COME MY BACK TEETH DON’T TOUCH AFTER CLEAR ALIGNER TREATMENT?
- Open bite malocclusion
- Smile Gallery
- Occlusion (dentistry)
