Having a normal bite means your side teeth sit together comfortably, and your front top teeth slightly overlap your bottom teeth when your mouth is closed. A normal bite makes biting, chewing, and talking easier, but many people have misalignments that affect the function of their mouths. An overbite occurs...
Maybe you found out about your impacted tooth after routine X-rays at the dentist. Or maybe you were diagnosed with one after you made an appointment for tooth pain and other bothersome symptoms. No matter how it happened, you know you have an impacted tooth. And now you’re wondering what...
Your teeth are designed to fit together comfortably. Your upper and lower jaws align to help you bite, chew, and talk with ease — but having a dental malocclusion, like an overbite, could change the way your mouth works and compromise your oral health. Overbites typically develop as the result...
About 12% of American adults experience chronic jaw pain and restricted motion from a condition known as temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder. Your TMJ is the joint that supports your jaw, and it gives you the ability to move your jaw up and down and side to side. You rely on...
When you’re a parent, your child’s health is your top priority. Establishing healthy habits early helps set them up for a lifetime of wellness, and you shouldn’t overlook the importance of oral health care in those early years. Your child’s mouth undergoes major changes as they grow. Overcrowding, crooked teeth,...
A healthy tooth should fully emerge from your gums. The crown ( or top) of your tooth sits above your gum line, while the root secures it in your jaw below — but this process doesn’t always happen like it should. If you have a tooth that’s partially or completely...
After you lose your primary (baby) teeth, larger, permanent teeth replace them. Healthy adult teeth fully emerge from your gums to fill out your smile, but sometimes a tooth gets stuck, or impacted. Impacted teeth either emerge partially from your gum or not at all. Any permanent tooth could become...
Few people are gifted with perfectly straight teeth, but everyone admires a picture-perfect smile. Millions of Americans wear orthodontic braces to straighten teeth and enhance oral health every year, and millions more have had orthodontic treatment in the past. Traditional braces were once the only option to get a straighter...
Your temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is a hinging joint that connects your jaw to your skull. There’s one TMJ on either side of your face, just in front of your ears. The TMJ gives your jaw motion. It helps you chew and speak, but TMJ disorders affect your ability to move...
What do you see when you look at your smile? Are your front teeth neatly aligned? Or do your upper teeth stick out and cover up the teeth on the bottom? If your top teeth overlap the bottom ones, you could have an overbite: one of the most common types...
Many people picture awkward teens with mouths full of metal when they think of traditional braces. Braces have been straightening teeth and improving oral health for decades, but there are still lots of myths surrounding this popular orthodontic treatment. As a board-certified orthodontist, Walied Touni, DDS, MSD, provides top-quality orthodontic...
Orthodontic braces are a rite of passage during the teen years. Most teenagers get braces between the ages of 10-14, but did you know your child might need orthodontic treatment before all their permanent teeth come in? It’s true. In fact, the American Association of Orthodontists recommends that kids get...
Everyone admires a picture-perfect smile. But it’s uncommon for teeth to come in perfectly straight, which is why about 4 million Americans wear braces each year. While it’s true that braces improve the appearance of your teeth, the benefits of orthodontic treatment like braces go far beyond aesthetics. Having properly...
If you need braces for straighter teeth, you may have more options than you realize. Instead of a mouthful of metal brackets and wires, your teen may benefit from a clear aligners orthodontic system. Clear aligners correct a variety of common orthodontic problems without the hassle of traditional braces. At...