In the ideal situation, our teeth would bite down in a very specific way to optimise function and oral health. Unfortunately, our teeth are almost never naturally perfect. This causes problems with chewing, oral hygiene, speaking and aesthetics.

The most common orthodontic problem is called malocclusion, or ‘bad bite’, and can be a genetic problem. A bad bite can also be caused by childhood thumb or finger-sucking, mouth breathing, dental disease, abnormal swallowing, poor dental hygiene, the early or late loss of baby teeth, accidents or poor nutrition. Trauma and other medical conditions such as birth defects may contribute to orthodontic problems as well.

Orthodontic problems can affect anyone but the good news is that most issues can be treated at any age. However, it is best if problems are corrected as early as possible so the they do not persist and cause more damage to the teeth or gums.