According to the American Association of Orthodontists, “occlusion” is the relationship between your upper (maxillary) and lower (mandibular) teeth as they come into functional contact – when you bite, chew or close your jaws together. The way the occlusal (chewing) surfaces of any of your teeth come together affects the other teeth, as well as your gums, neck and head, plus your jaw muscles, jaw joint and your oral health. For a bite to be functional and esthetic, there must be a precise arrangement between the teeth, and a harmonious relationship between the jaws. “Malocclusion” literally means “bad bite”, which can be caused by crooked, crowded, misaligned or protruding teeth that do not fit together properly. It is a variation of the normal position of teeth that can impact the shape of a person’s face, and in severe cases can even affect eating, speech, and keeping the teeth clean.