Introduction
When it comes to dentistry, there are diverse issues from cavities to bad breath and from missing teeth to irregular teeth. All these have a great impact on the overall health of an individual. Irregularly placed teeth, termed malocclusion, are one of the core dental problems that are commonly found in the population. This ranges from,
-
Crowded teeth
-
Spaced teeth
-
Protruded or retruded teeth
-
Deep bite, etc.
What Are the Causes for Malocclusion?
The various causes for malocclusion are;
1. Genetic Factors and Inheritance - Often, malocclusion runs in families.
2. Endocrine Issues - Hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, gigantism, dwarfism, cretinism, etc., also result in malocclusion. This occurs due to the impact of endocrine hormones, which results in either small, large, and more teeth. These can also result in increased or decreased spacing of teeth.
3. Nutritional Factors - Deficiency of vitamin A, B9, B12, and minerals, such as calcium and phosphorus deficiency, also result in an irregular pattern of teeth. The deficiency of nutrition during pregnancy also results in malocclusion.
4. Habits - Habits during childhood also cause various issues. There are some abnormal habits such as-
-
Thumbsucking.
-
The habit of jaw protrusion often results in the proclination of upper front teeth.
5.Dental Issues - Dental caries, missing teeth, and defective restorations of teeth also result in malocclusion.
What Are the Impacts of Malocclusion on Human Health?
The following are the impacts of malocclusion on human health-
1) Aesthetic Problems:
Aesthetic problems are particularly seen among females.
2) Speech Issues:
The abnormal position of the tongue and teeth can interfere in speech, and hence patients will not be able to talk properly. This can have a large scale negative impact on his or her life.
3) Respiratory Issues:
It has been observed that patients with respiratory issues such as snoring at night and mouth breathing report complications due to malocclusion.
4) Headache:
Abnormality in the occlusion often creates problems around the temporomandibular joint resulting in a headache. Myofascial pain dysfunction syndrome can result in muscle pain, headache, and lack of psychological well-being of patients.
5) Psychological Issues:
Psychological issues that occur due to cosmetic and aesthetic problems make people difficult to find a match for marriage. This impacts the girls particularly. Moreover, they are not able to find certain jobs due to a lack of proper speech and aesthetics.
6) Economic Issues:
Economic issues occur due to the financial burden on frequent dental check-ups and expensive treatment for correcting the problem. However, the rich are able to afford it. Major sections of the population who belong to low-income groups are not able to afford the treatment. So it becomes important to prevent its occurrence and correct it early.
What Are the Preventive Measures for Malocclusion?
The various preventive measures to be taken are;
-
Regular dental check-ups for children. This is particularly important for those where malocclusion runs in families.
-
Health education.
-
Counseling to parents regarding
1. Healthy habits.
2. Nutritional demands.
3. The need for dental check-ups.
-
Treatment of minor dental problems at the earliest, such as discolored carious teeth.
-
Health talks in schools, communities, and town halls for awareness regarding early childhood care of teeth.
-
Counseling of people for early orthodontic interventions.
What Are the Treatment Options for Malocclusion?
The treatment options are selected based on:
-
The case history.
-
Investigations.
-
Growth reports of the patient.
A) Case History:
The patient is first evaluated by systemic case history. The case history includes,
-
Demographic details.
-
Facial examination.
-
Oral examination.
-
General examination of the body.
B) Investigations:
It is followed by a series of investigations. This may include,
-
Orthopantomography.
-
Cephalometrics.
-
Cast studies.
C) Growth Reports of the Patient:
After these investigations, a detailed report of the case study is worked out. Based on the report, the treatment options are selected. Treatment usually depends on the nature of the problem and the age at which the patient is seen. Usually, the best age is when the person is growing. At this age, the treatment has a high success rate and is less expensive. Adults and elderly people can also be treated, but the duration of the treatment and costs are expensive.
The treatment includes:
1) Removable Orthodontic Appliances
These are the appliances that are used to correct minor discrepancies in occlusion. The removable appliances can be worn and removed by the patient at his own will. They are not permanently fixed to teeth. These are effective in the growing period and are less expensive.
2) Fixed Orthodontic Appliances
As the name suggests, these are permanently fixed with teeth for a specified period and are removed only by a professional orthodontist, not at the will of the patient. These are most popular as they cause less inconvenience to the patients and are also more effective than removable appliances. However, these are expensive and not affordable to all.
3) Invisalign
This is a recent technological advancement in orthodontics. Invisalign is also called invisible braces. These are usually made of polymeric materials, such as acrylic or plastic. After a careful history, examination, and investigations of the patient, a digital scan of the teeth is taken, and then invisible braces are fabricated using the software. These are then worn by the patient in series till teeth move at the desired location.
Advantages-
- Patient comfort - as these can be removed for cleanliness and oral hygiene
- Socially more acceptable.
- Easy to clean.
- Oral hygiene is easily maintained.
Disadvantages-
-
These are not suitable for growing patients, such as children.
-
These are usually effective for minor discrepancies in occlusion.
-
These are not as precise as fixed braces for achieving the desired results.
-
The patient can abandon or forget or lose them sometimes.
-
The patient is required to adhere to strict protocols, such as avoiding taking acidic beverages or energy drinks once they are put on invisible braces. This can result in the collection of the fluids in braces resulting in damage to appliances as well as teeth. These can preferably be taken once the patient has removed them.
-
These are more expensive than fixed braces. So these are less affordable to major sections of the population.
4) Orthognathic Surgery
It involves surgical interventions around the maxilla and mandible. This is particularly taken in connection with the fixed treatment among those patients who have crossed their growing period, we can say among mature adults.
Conclusion:
Malocclusion is a major dental issue in a population. Although it is considered a harmless problem, it has a drastic impact on the psychological well-being and overall health of an individual. Prevention and correcting this problem can solve diverse life-long problems of an individual. So it is always wiser and better to treat this problem as early as possible for a healthy future.
