With the aid of braces, removable appliances, retainers, and the newest technologies in orthodontics, Dr. Fratantonio specializes in the correction of common orthodontic problems in adults and children such as:
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Crowding
(top) Crowding is the lack of space for all the teeth to fit normally within the jaws. The teeth may be twisted or displaced. Crowding occurs when there is disharmony in the tooth to jaw size relationship or when the teeth are larger than the available space. Crowding can be caused by improper eruption of teeth and early or late loss of primary teeth. Impactions can be caused by improper positioning of the developing tooth bud. This can cause the tooth to fail to erupt into the mouth. Impactions can also be caused by early loss of primary teeth or crowding of teeth. Wisdom teeth are the most commonly impacted teeth. Canines and premolars can also be impacted. Crossbite (top) Crossbite can occur in the front and/or the sides of the mouth. One or more upper teeth bite on the inside of the lower teeth. This can occur with a single tooth or multiple teeth. Early correction of crossbite is recommended. Openbite is an insufficient vertical overlap of the teeth. It is caused by oral habits such as tongue thrust, finger sucking or when the jaws don't grow evenly. Timing of treatment is critical to the overall success of the therapy. Overbite occurs when the upper front teeth protrude over the lower front teeth. Generally there is no contact between the upper and lower front teeth. Often you cannot see the lower incisors. Overjet is also known as protrusion. In this case, the lower teeth are too far behind the upper front teeth. The lower teeth protrude past the front teeth. An underbite is usually caused by undergrowth of the upper jaw, overgrowth of the lower jaw, or a combination of the two. |