Orthodontics isn’t just about making your teeth straight or making them look better; it’s also used to correct bite problems.
The most common types of bite problem are:
crowding
excessive spacing
crossbite
overbite
underbite
Your bite (how the top and bottom teeth meet) can affect how well you chew your food and can also make it harder for you to maintain good oral hygiene. This is why a full set of braces or Invisalign is sometimes needed, rather than separate treatment of the top or bottom rows of teeth. That said, people who already have a good bite may require braces or an aligner only on the top or the bottom teeth.
When recommending treatment, your orthodontist will assess your bite to determine whether extractions or surgery are necessary or whether your bite can be corrected with braces or Invisalign. Patients with poor jaw alignment may require additional treatment in the form of either orthopaedic appliances (devices used to influence the growth and/or position of bone) or surgery.