Common Problems

While everyone wants that perfect smile, the chance of the permanent teeth developing to be perfectly aligned from the get-go is extremely rare. Most smiles will be affected by one of several common bite issues that result in misaligned teeth or the upper and lower jaw not fitting properly together. These issues are often referred to as “malocclusions”, and all of them typically require orthodontic treatment such as braces or Invisalign to correct and align your teeth to create the perfect smile. If a malocclusion is left untreated, it can lead to a variety of issues including difficulty with speech, accelerated wear and damage to your teeth over time, higher risk of dental issues like gum disease or tooth decay, and even a higher chance of injuring your teeth or jaw joints.

Here at Lindsey Orthodontic, we offer professional orthodontic care that is personalized just for you, setting you up with the ideal treatment that best meets your needs. We work with patients of all ages, from kids who are just starting to develop their smile, to adults who are looking to achieve that radiant, perfect smile they’ve dreamt of. With the experience of Dr. Lindsey and our talented orthodontic staff, we can work with you to fix any common bite problem to create a healthy smile that will last for a lifetime. To learn more about the common bite problems that we can treat with orthodontic care, check out the information below.



An underbite is when the lower jaw extends further out than the upper jaw and, resulting in the lower teeth overlapping and sitting in front of the upper teeth when you smile is closed. With orthodontic treatment, the jaw will be adjusted so that the upper and lower teeth will be aligned and fit together naturally and comfortably.



The opposite of an underbite, an overbite is when the upper jaw extends further out than the lower jaw, causing the upper teeth to rest in front of the lower teeth when biting down. In some cases of more severe overbite, it’s possible for the lower front teeth to even bite into the roof of the mouth, which can be painful. Overbite can result in some other common smile issues such as a “gummy” smile where a large portion of the gums shows when smiling, protruding lips, or accelerated wear on your incisors.



A crossbite is when the upper teeth sit inside of the lower teeth, which can be uncomfortable and lead to bite, speech and other jaw development problems. While it may look similar to an overbite, it’s less of a misalignment with the jaw and more of an issue with the alignment of your teeth. Is many cases of crossbite, patients will have to move their lower jaw forward in order to close their mouth comfortably, which could lead to other dental issues over time, and even contribute to asymmetry with a person’s facial structure.

Upper Front Teeth Protrusion


An upper front teeth protrusion is similar to an overbite in appearance, and can negatively impact the appearance and function of your teeth. This malocclusion is typically characterized by the upper teeth extending too far forward so they are protruding at an angle from the smile. In some cases, the upper teeth may not be the problem, as the lower teeth can also potentially not extend far enough forward, resulting in the appearance of protruding upper teeth.



Crowding teeth is an extremely common issue that can range from just a few teeth being misaligned and pushed together, to the entire smile. Crowding is the result of insufficient room in the gums for the teeth to develop, causing them to collide and push against each other during development, and forcing them to grow at different angles. If the crowded teeth are not corrected with braces or Invisalign, it could lead to periodontal problems such as gingivitis, serious gum disease, and tooth decay due to the increased difficulty of cleaning the crowded teeth with normal oral hygiene routines.



While spacing could sometimes be an issue of missing teeth, it’s also possible for spaces to naturally develop in the smile if there is too much room in the jaw for the teeth to develop, or the teeth are smaller than average. Spaces in the teeth can lead to issues with speech, or put the gums at greater risk of gum disease since there is more room for food and bacteria to build up.

Open Bite


An open bite is when the lower front teeth and upper front teeth don’t come together when biting down, resulting in an opening in the smile. Open bites can dramatically impact comfort when chewing and speaking, and can increase the chance of developing several bad habits like thumb sucking or tongue thrusting that can make dental and orthodontic issues even worse.

Dental Midlines Don’t Match Up


Your dental midlines are the lines between your two front upper teeth and the two lower bottom teeth. Typically, one sign of a properly aligned smile is when these two midlines match up perfect together from one end to the other. However, when these midlines don’t match up, it means that the upper or lower jaw is misaligned to either side. Even if the teeth themselves seem fairly straight, the jaw misalignment could lead to more serious dental or orthodontic issues in the future.

Contact Us & Get Your Perfect Smile Today!

Everything that you and your family need to have perfect, radiant smiles that last for a lifetime is right here at Lindsey Orthodontics. From traditional metal braces, clear braces, lingual braces, and Invisalign for both adults and teens, our state-of-the-art treatments can correct any common bite problem to create the ideal smile for anyone. If you have any questions about the orthodontic treatment that we offer, the common problems that can affect your smile, or how you can schedule your appointment with us, just contact us and a member of our staff will be happy to assist you! With our two local offices in Griffin and Locust Grove, GA, the professional orthodontic care that you need is never far from home. We look forward to seeing you in our office soon!

Lindsey Orthodontics

