Malaligned teeth or jaw leading to an improper bite, occlusion, and jaw relation is known as malocclusion. Edward angle, also known as the "father of modern orthodontics," coined the term "malocclusion." Some of the causes are a hereditary predisposition, tumors, enlarged adenoids, cleft lip and palate, missing teeth, habits like thumb sucking, tongue thrusting, etc. If left untreated, they can cause temporomandibular joint disorders, speech difficulty, and mainly displeasing esthetics. A dental malocclusion can be corrected with orthodontic therapy, while a skeletal malocclusion needs surgical intervention and orthodontic treatment.
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How to straighten teeth that are not in order?
Query: Hello doctor, My teeth are not in order. How to correct them? Read Full »
Answer: Hi, Welcome to icliniq.com. Improperly aligned teeth are said to be in malocclusion. They cause problems like difficulty in breathing, speaking, eating and might cause dental cavities also. So, orthodontic intervention is necessary. Depending upon the severity of the malocclusion, removable or fi... Read Full »
Can dental problems cause head and shoulder pain?
Query: Hi doctor, I am a 47-year-old male with a height of 162 cm and a weight of 74 kg. I have tooth pain, and pain in the upper and lower jaw, the backside of the head, and the shoulder. The pain is mostly on the right side of the head and jaw. Can you please help me with this? Read Full »
Answer: Hi, Welcome to icliniq.com. I can understand your concern. I went through your question and CT (computed tomography) report (attachment removed to protect the patient's identity). Your CT report is normal, which means there is no major issue to be concerned about. The problem looks muscle-related... Read Full »
Query: Hello doctor,My orthodontist advised the removal of the front lower teeth to segregate the alignment. I would like to send you the photographs. Kindly suggest if it is necessary.Thank you. Read Full »
Answer: Hello, Welcome to icliniq.com. I can understand your concern. Removing one tooth from the lower arch according to the orthodontist may correct the problem. But, it can only get worse. The patient has a condition called class II division 2 malocclusion where her upper front teeth are inclined toward... Read Full »
Do my maxillary lateral incisors appear abnormal?
Query: Hello doctor, I think my maxillary lateral incisors are not in perfect shape but my dentist thinks they are. I just need a second opinion. Read Full »
Answer: Hi, Welcome to icliniq.com. Your maxillary lateral incisors are perfect in shape and place (attachment removed to protect patient identity). Only, maxillary left central incisor is a bit down from occlusion that only dentist or you can feel the difference. If your case is about to end, ask the den... Read Full »
How can an overbite be treated other than Herbst appliance?
Query: Hi doctor,My orthodontist suggested Herbst appliance to treat my overbite as I am at the end of the growth phase. However, I feel uncomfortable wearing the appliance. I need your opinion. What are the other treatment methods? Please help. Read Full »
Answer: Hi, Welcome to icliniq.com. A fixed functional appliance is usually prescribed during the end stage of the growth period. There are other options like Forsus or Advansync 2. These appliances are fixed to the mouth, appear bulkier, and make uncomfortable. You can also opt for elastics (removable), wh... Read Full »
How much does compensation orthodontics increase overjet?
Query: Hi doctor, How much can the overjet be increased by decompensation of incisors inclination in a class two patient treated with compensation orthodontics? I have attached my current angles list for your reference. Please help. Read Full »
Answer: Hello, Welcome to icliniq.com. I read your query and can understand your concern. Overjet is usually better if it is between two to five millimeters. If you already have a five-millimeters overjet, we have to determine whether any increase is required. So, please post the pictures of your face fro... Read Full »
Query: Hello doctor,I am using clear aligners and have a class 2 overbite. I am around six months into treatment and now using elastics. However, I believe that the orthodontist has done something wrong. I thought the elastics should be from the top canine teeth to the bottom first molar. But my elastics e... Read Full »
Answer: Hi, Welcome to icliniq.com. Thank you for writing and I understand your concern. Elastics are given to provide an additional force in adjusting the teeth to proper relations. There are three types of configurations that can be followed. Within the same jaw front and back: Given for class I mal... Read Full »
Can Class II elastics correct my mal-aligned lower teeth?
Query: Hello doctor, I have been wearing braces for about three years now, and I am getting them off in a few months. I am wearing Class II elastics, but I found my lower teeth are tilted: the left is higher than the right. How can I use elastics to correct this? Read Full »
Answer: Hi, Welcome to icliniq.com. Class II elastics are given mainly to correct the anteroposterior relations (meaning front back relations) mainly of molars and canines. Apart from these, they might also be used to settle the occlusion properly as desired. Before proceeding to answer your specific ques... Read Full »
Will palatal expansion help to achieve proper occlusion?
Query: Hello doctor, I have a TMJ problem. My jaw cramps and can be painful while opening. As for TMJ, I cannot remember ever being able to open my mouth wide open without cramping. Only recently has my left jaw joint been painful. I have had braces for two years to fix my crossbite. My lower right canine ... Read Full »
Answer: Hello,Welcome to icliniq.com.I have gone through your query and images (attachments removed to protect patient identity).I can see braces on the upper anterior teeth only. There are no braces on the posterior teeth in the upper arch. I want to know the reason why braces are not present on the poster... Read Full »
I have removed my brackets wire because it was poking. Please help.
Query: Hello doctor, My wire was poking out on one end and I attempted to put it back in place but it would not stay. I wanted to let it go until I could get it fixed by my orthodontist but it was scratching the inside of my cheek so I used tweezers and removed all the rubber bands from each individual br... Read Full »
Answer: Hello, Welcome to icliniq.com. As per your description, you have removed wire from all brackets and now no wire is there. Ideally you should not do this. This may hamper your treatment progress. When your wire was disturbing you then you should have contacted your Orthodontist at least by telephon... Read Full »
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