How Common Is Unequal Jaw Growth?
By Barry Kurzer | Published on August 13, 2010 | 0 Comments
Unequal jaw growth is very common in patients, and the best way to remedy this type of problem is with the help of an orthodontic device, according to Barry Kurzer DDS. Either by utilizing standard braces with brackets and wires or a newer Invisalign treatment option, Kurzer, a dentist in Midlothian, can get a patient’s unequal jaw back in line with the rest of his mouth.
The term “unequal jaw growth” could actually mean a number of different things, explains Kurzer, as either the lower jaw or the upper jaw could be growing in a way that does not line up the rest of the mouth. For example, Kurzer has seen patients whose upper jaws were growing longer than their lower jaws, a condition that would fall into the category of unequal jaw growth.
In other cases, the problem might be that a patient’s lower jaw is protruding over the upper jaw, or visa versa. In almost every case, Kurzer assures us that there is some type of orthodontic treatment that a dentist can use to get the jaws back into alignment. Although Invisalign is the most popular of these treatment options currently, traditional braces will also work in the majority of cases.
Additionally, there also happen to be cases where a patient might have a width problem with his jaws, as opposed to a length issue. In this case, a patient’s upper jaw might be wider than it should be or the lower jaw might be narrower than it should be. Both of these issues can be treated with orthodontics and would not necessarily require surgery to repair.
In cases where the lower jaw is too narrow or too wide, the problem could stem either from the width of the bone or the “angulation” of the teeth, a term that means that the teeth deviate from a straight line possibly because of a badly set bone. If the issue is being caused by the angulation of the teeth, then Kurzer says he could get to work straightening out the teeth. If the issue is being caused by the width of the mandible, then he would begin expanding the mandible to create what is known as the “ideal occlusion,” or an ideal bite.
Kurzer says that 15% of orthodontic patients across the country today suffer from some type of unequal jaw growth. In fact, all orthodontic patients are classified on the basis of their jaw length. Class 1 is what a dentist would call a normal occlusion, or a normal bite, but a person who has a difference in the lengths of his jaws would fall under Class 2 or Class 3. Kurzer says that one sixth of all orthodontic patients fall into Class 2 or 3. In the majority of cases, people who fall into Class 2 or 3 can have their problems repaired using traditional orthodontic methods, but there are still some cases where surgery may be necessary.
One of the latest advancements in the dental industry is the use of Invisalign to treat jaw width issues. A dentist can actually recommend Invisalign to any patient whose lower jaw is narrower than the upper jaw and feel confident that the bite can be repaired with just these basic clear aligners.
Although Kurzer has been utilizing Invisalign in his practice for years, it wasn’t until recently that the company created the updated software that began allowing dentists to treat additional types of cases with it. Kurzer loves telling patients that he can fix their jaw alignment issues with Invisalign, because most people are so shocked and surprised to learn about this option.
The most common question, according to Kurzer, is “When can I start?” Even adults who never had orthodontia as children can now use Invisalign to straighten their teeth and repair jaw unevenness at the same time. At the end of the treatment series, Kurzer says that the final result is a great, straight smile that patients can feel proud of.
*Disclaimer: The information on this website is not intended to substitute for the medical expertise and advice of your healthcare provider. We encourage you to discuss any decisions about treatment or care with an appropriate healthcare provider.