What caused the problem In the first place?

No one knows the exact cause of every orthodontic problem. Some causes are very evident, such as thumb sucking. Most are much more complex, However, the old cliche' that the patient inherited daddy's teeth and mother's jaw is simply not correct. You are never too old to be evaluated for craniofacial or dental orthopedic problems. You are never too old to correct a problem non- surgically.

MALOCCLUSION

Malocclusions are usually inherited or acquired.

Acquired malocclusions can be caused by accidents (called "trauma"), sucking of the thumb, finger or pacifiers, tonsils and adenoids that obstruct the airway, and disease or premature loss of primary or permanent teeth.

Inherited malocclusions that determined how well your teeth fit together are largely determined by such attributes as tooth and jaw size. For example, people can inherit large teeth and small dental arches, or the reverse. A "poor bite" is often caused by teeth that have too much or too little room in the jaw. Other common causes of crooked teeth are factors that move the teeth out of place, including oral habits and early tooth loss, which leads to tooth shifting.

Regardless of whether malocclusions are inherited or acquired, many of these problems affect not only alignment of the teeth but also facial development and appearance as well.

SKELETAL DISCREPANCIES

On assessing the face it is possible to see many features that might be construed as not normal, such as:

• Narrow palate with a high arch
• Mouth breathing and poor lip seal
• Lower jaw well behind upper jaw
• Lower jaw well in front of upper jaw
• Lower jaw deviating to one side
• Temperomandibular joint dysfunction
• Overcrowded teeth

SYMPTOMS

Teeth that do not meet normally will lead to the following symptoms.

• ENT problems
• Facial disharmony
• Problems with biting the cheek or roof of the mouth
• Over crowded teeth-permanent teeth erupting out of their normal position
• Poor function of the teeth
• Headaches and various facial pains
• Speech difficulties
• Self- consciousness