Dysgnathia
A slight misalignment of the jaw (dysgnathia) or malocclusion occurs in almost every set of teeth. It is often only aesthetically disturbing and does not need to be treated.
However, more severe misalignments can endanger the health of the teeth or cause difficulties when chewing and speaking. If the jaw is misaligned, an oral and maxillofacial surgeon can reposition the upper and/or lower jaw. Misaligned teeth can usually be successfully treated orthodontically without surgery using removable or fixed braces. As the person affected, you can do a lot to ensure that the therapy is successful.
In a normal set of teeth, all the structures in the oral cavity are optimally coordinated so that they can function without discomfort. However, the “ideal” set of teeth is very rare. Hereditary or developmental factors often lead to the development of malocclusion or jaw misalignment(dysgnathia).
In the case of malocclusion, one or more teeth in the upper or lower jaw are outside the ideal shape of the dental arch. This means that they are crooked or twisted. Sometimes the teeth do not grow out in the intended place or grow out incompletely.
If the jaw is misaligned, the upper or lower jaw deviates from the ideal shape. For example, the lower jaw is smaller or larger than the upper jaw. Or the position of the upper and lower jaw in relation to each other is not correct. Misaligned jaws are almost always accompanied by misaligned teeth.
Important to know: Misaligned teeth and jaws can also be corrected in adulthood. In addition to your esthetic requirements, the severity of the dysgnathia and the associated impairments play an important role when deciding on a treatment. We will advise you carefully on this.
As already mentioned, the perfect, straight set of teeth is very rare. It is estimated that only one in 20 people have all their teeth arranged symmetrically in the jaw. Misaligned teeth and jaws are not a question of age: they can occur in early childhood due to congenital or habitual factors. Sometimes, however, misalignments of the teeth or jaws only become noticeable in adulthood – for example after the eruption of wisdom teeth or through night-time teeth grinding.
Misaligned teeth or jaws can be hereditary as well as caused by external influences. Family members often have similar teeth shapes. Hereditary factors primarily influence the growth of the lower jaw. This is usually recognizable not only by individual crooked teeth, but by complex irregularities of the teeth or jaw.
Various habits such as mouth breathing, tongue or lip pressing or sucking can also influence the shape of the upper jaw. In babies and toddlers, prolonged and frequent use of pacifiers or thumb sucking can also cause jaw deformities and misaligned teeth. This may cause the upper front teeth to tilt outwards over time (“buck teeth”).
If the teeth are interlocked, this is usually due to a lack of space. This means that the jaw is too small in relation to the size or number of teeth. This is also the case if the milk teeth are already very close together or if a milk tooth falls out too early. As a result, there is often not enough space for the permanent teeth. Conversely, a milk tooth that falls out late can lead to the following tooth having to move out of the way.
Another cause is injuries to the teeth or jaw area in childhood. This can cause the tooth germ to shift or be damaged, so that tooth growth is disturbed. Or obstacles during tooth eruption cause the tooth germ to remain transversely in the bone.
Some diseases can also change the dentition. These include, for example:
Even a slight misalignment of the teeth or jaw (dysgnathia) can lead to problems that not only disturb the visual perception, but also impair the health and quality of life of the person affected:
To diagnose tooth or jaw misalignment (dysgnathia), we will first thoroughly examine you or your child’s teeth and jaw. We take into account the tooth eruptions, the number, size and shape of the teeth, the position of the teeth and bite, as well as the jaw conditions and the lip and profile contours.
We can often recognize early or late tooth eruption, malocclusion or a noticeable jaw misalignment with the naked eye. Speech disorders and ear, nose and throat problems can also provide indications of dysgnathia.
Important to know: Not every jaw or tooth misalignment requires orthodontic treatment. We will refer you to orthodontics if we suspect that you have dysgnathia that requires treatment or if you wish to do so for aesthetic reasons. The orthodontist can use dental models, x-rays and photographs to clarify whether the misalignment of the teeth or jaw needs to be treated or appears to make sense.
The treatment of a misaligned tooth or jaw can quickly cost several thousand Swiss francs. Basic health insurance does not usually offer any subsidies, even for children with malocclusions. However, there are certain medical conditions, such as a severe jaw anomaly, for which the costs are covered. In addition, most health insurance companies offer cost sharing for dental corrections through supplementary insurance. It is best to contact your health insurance company before starting treatment.
If tooth and jaw misalignment (dysgnathia) is hereditary, prevention is hardly possible. However, there are numerous harmful habits that promote malocclusion or jaw misalignment. You can do something about this:
Misaligned teeth and jaws can – as already mentioned – become noticeable in early childhood, but also in adulthood. If they are not treated, they can lead to further problems such as chewing, swallowing and speech disorders or other physical complaints. It is therefore all the more important that you or your child have a dental check-up in good time to determine whether treatment is necessary or advisable.
It is not possible to make an exact prognosis as to whether the jaw or tooth misalignment can be completely corrected by the therapy. In addition to the type and severity of the malocclusion, the skills of the orthodontist or oral and maxillofacial surgeon and your cooperation as the affected person also play an important role in the success of the treatment.
Misaligned teeth can usually be successfully treated without surgery using orthodontic therapy.
A visit to the orthodontist can make sense as early as kindergarten age. Even in the case of severe tooth or jaw misalignments, treatment can begin in the primary dentition. However, treatment usually only begins between the ages of 9 and 13. At this stage, jaw bone growth is not yet complete and the shape of the jaw can be easily influenced. In the case of a particularly severe tooth or jaw misalignment such as crossbite, mandibular prebite, open bite or cleft lip and palate, treatment can already be carried out in the primary dentition.
In adults, the shape of the jaw can no longer be influenced by orthodontics, but the position of the teeth in their socket can. Orthodontic treatment is therefore possible at any age.