| All orthodontic conditions are as unique
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| | the complications they can cause include:
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| and varied as the patients involved, but
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| | Overjet (protruded front teeth) -
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| there are some problems seen more
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| | Unattractive and prone to damage
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| frequently than others. These, too, vary
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| | Crowded Teeth - Unattractive, difficult
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| with the patient base. For example, the
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| | to clean, bone damage and gum recession
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| most common problems for adults are
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| | Underbite (lower front teeth protrude
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| different from those of children. The
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| | beyond the upper teeth) - Unattractive
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| most common problems can also vary from
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| | and uneven wear of the front teeth
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| one ethnic group to another, because many
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| | Deepbite (upper front teeth cover the
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| orthodontic problems are hereditary.
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| | lower teeth) - Excessive wear of the
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| For children, the most common orthodontic
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| | front teeth and gum and bone damage
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| problems are poor alignment of teeth due
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| | behind the upper front teeth
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| to crowding and protrusion of the upper
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| | Openbite (upper and lower teeth don't
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| front teeth ahead of the lower teeth
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| | meet in front) - Eating problems, speech
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| (frequently called 'buck teeth') due to
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| | problems, and excessive wear of those
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| the lower jaw being shorter than the
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| | teeth which do meet; unattractive
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| upper jaw. The main cause of crowding
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| | Crossbite (upper jaw is too narrow, so
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| stems from teeth being larger than the
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| | lower jaw swings to one side to allow the
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| amount of space available in the mouth.
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| | teeth to mesh) - Biting and chewing
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| The causes for protrusion of the upper
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| | difficulties
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| jaw can vary from patient to patient and
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| | Spacing (missing teeth or wide dental
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| include genetic growth patterns, thumb
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| | arch and small teeth) - Unattractive and
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| sucking, tongue thrusting, airway
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| | allows teeth to shift out of position
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| obstructions that cause the child to
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| | The American Association of Orthodontists
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| breathe through the mouth and abnormal
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| | recommends age seven for a child's
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| eruption of permanent teeth due to loss
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| | initial orthodontic evaluation. This can
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| of baby teeth.
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| | be sooner if the general dentist has
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| For adults, the most common treatments
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| | concerns and wishes your child to be seen
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| include correcting crowding or crooked
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| | by an orthodontist before age seven. Keep
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| teeth, closing spaces (old or new)
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| | in mind, however, a dentist's referral is
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| between teeth, and correcting the
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| | not required for the initial examination.
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| position and alignment of teeth. Even
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| | The orthodontist usually submits a
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| when adult orthodontic problems are the
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| | written report of his or her findings to
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| same as those of children, the treatment
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| | the patient's dentist. Inquire if this is
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| is different because there is no jaw
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| | done and request it if it is not.
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| growth in adults, so problems that could
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| | Children and adults should have a recent
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| be easily managed in a growing child
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| | (within last six months) cleaning and
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| (such as an upper jaw protrusion) may
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| | checkup with their dentist before
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| require surgery in an adult. Adults are
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| | scheduling an orthodontic evaluation.
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| also more likely to have gum or bone loss
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| | Whatever the orthodontic problem, the
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| due to periodontal disease and worn,
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| | goal of all orthodontic treatment is to
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| damaged or missing teeth.
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| | produce a healthy, well-functioning,
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| Some of the more common orthodontic
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| | stable bite.
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| conditions (in children and adults) and
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