Mayo Clinic Care Network Content
Definitions

Malocclusion


Overview

Misaligned teeth can happen as teeth develop or from childhood habits, such as thumb sucking. The most common cause is when the jaw is too small compared with the size of the teeth.

Symptoms

In addition to misaligned teeth, symptoms may include discomfort or difficulty while chewing.

Treatments

Treatments might include braces, tooth removal to resolve crowding, and repair of irregular teeth.