Dental answers, made clearer
Learn how overbites, underbites, crossbites and crowding affect the teeth and jaw, and when an orthodontic assessment may be useful.
Malocclusion is the general term for a misaligned bite, where the upper and lower teeth don't fit together properly when the jaw closes. It covers several patterns, including overbite, underbite, crossbite, and overcrowded teeth.
Read the answerAn overbite is when the upper front teeth sit too far forward over the lower teeth, while an underbite is the opposite, with the lower teeth extending past the upper ones. Both can affect chewing, speech, and in more severe cases, jaw comfort over time.
Read the answerYes, crowded or crooked teeth are harder to clean properly, which raises the risk of plaque buildup, decay, and gum disease in the tight spaces between them. Correcting alignment isn't purely cosmetic; it also makes long-term oral hygiene significantly easier to maintain.
Read the answer