mouth and dental disorders
Malocclusion
Causes of Malocclusion
There are several causes of misaligned teeth: Size mismatch between jaw and teeth Habitual thumb-sucking and/or tongue thrusting Lost teeth Certain birth defects of the jaw Themost common causeof misaligned teeth is when the jaw is too small compared to the size of the teeth. A slight size mismatch causes teeth to be too crowded and thus misaligned. People who habitually suck their thumb or push their tongue up against their front teeth may cause the upper teeth to protrude. A lost permanent tooth creates a gap that nearby teeth may shift into, causing misalignment unless a dentist places a bridge, implant, or partial denture in the gap. Normally, lost baby teeth are quickly replaced by permanent teeth. However, if children lose a baby tooth too soon (such as due to an injury), nearby teeth can similarly shift, causing misalignment. Birth defects of the jaw and Fractures of the Jaw and Midface often cause misalignment. 