What does it mean to be in alignment? For many, it’s about harmony—when thoughts, actions, and values are working together, life feels more purposeful and balanced. But alignment isn’t just philosophical—it’s physical too. When the body is out of alignment, especially in areas like the jaw, it can have a ripple effect on both physical and mental health. Misaligned jaws can lead to chronic discomfort, tension, and even emotional stress, all of which can throw your overall well-being off balance. True alignment means caring for both mind and body, and that starts with recognizing how something like jaw alignment plays a bigger role than you might think.
How Misaligned Jaws Can Disrupt Daily Life
Jaw misalignment is a common dental problem that impacts 56% of people worldwide. We also refer to it as malocclusion, which occurs when the upper and lower jaws do not fit together properly. This can result from various causes, such as genetics, developmental habits like thumb-sucking, dental issues like missing or crowded teeth, trauma, or congenital conditions.
A misaligned jaw can significantly impact your oral health, especially when it comes to crowded teeth. The two issues often go hand in hand, each one contributing to the other. Crowded teeth can push the jaw out of alignment, while a misaligned jaw can cause teeth to shift or become more crowded over time. When a patient has crowded teeth, their oral hygiene is negatively impacted. It creates hard-to-clean spaces where plaque and food particles accumulate. This increases your risk of cavities and gum disease, as these areas become breeding grounds for bacteria.
Aside from difficulty with oral hygiene and an increased risk of tooth decay, a misaligned jaw can create uneven force on teeth, leading to dental damage such as worn-down, chipped, and fractured teeth. Additionally, many patients with a misaligned jaw experience jaw pain and sometimes temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD).
Improper jaw alignment can interfere with the natural movement of the tongue and teeth, making it difficult to pronounce certain sounds or words correctly. It can even impact your ability to thoroughly chew your food, causing digestive issues and discomfort while eating.
At Orthodontists Associates of Western New York, we understand these struggles more than anyone. We offer solutions to help alleviate our patients’ pain and frustration.
Solutions to Correct Jaw Misalignment
Our practice offers several treatment options for a misaligned jaw, tailored to the severity and specific type of misalignment.
Non-surgical treatments include traditional metal braces or clear braces. Braces include brackets and wires to move your teeth and jaws into proper alignment over time. For less severe jaw misalignment, we can use Invisalign® clear aligners, which offer a more discreet and subtle treatment option.
Sometimes, we combine treatments for ultimate effectiveness. Headgear can be combined with braces to guide jaw growth and alignment, mainly in growing children. Headgear applies external force to move the upper or lower jaw into a better position.
We offer surgical orthodontics for more severe cases, specifically in adults. We only resort to surgery when braces and other dental appliances cannot completely correct the bite independently. Maxillary osteotomy is a type of surgery for the upper jaw. It repositions the upper jaw to correct dental and facial irregularities like an overbite, underbite, crossbite, or openbite. We also offer mandibular osteotomy. This option corrects the misalignment of the lower jaw.
Finally, genioplasty is used to reshape or reposition the chin to improve facial balance. If you have lower jaw misalignment and a deficient chin, genioplasty can correct both issues.
If you’re struggling with malocclusion, it’s important to address it immediately. That way, you can begin your path to a healthier life with better oral health.
Seek Treatment for Jaw Misalignment With Orthodontists Associates of WNY
Misaligned jaws can cause several issues with dental and overall health. It can make daily things like eating and speaking more difficult and create a demanding oral hygiene routine. You deserve to live in alignment, not just philosophically but emotionally and physically. This can mean addressing jaw misalignment by seeking treatment. Don’t live with the difficulty of malocclusion any longer. We welcome you to contact us today to book your free screening. With our help, we can get you on the path to a stronger jaw and better oral health.
