The Self-Diagnostic Process:
Self-Diagnosis: What to look for…..
- If you have crowding or various degrees of overbite, you probably have a narrow upper jaw; that is, your upper and/or lower jaws are narrow leading to crowding or overlapping teeth.
- If you have a narrow upper jaw, your are probably a “mouth breather” (dry-mouth upon awakening) or have an unfavorable tongue position, which is often referred to as tongue-thrust. I prefer abnormal tongue position due more than likely to airway obstruction or one of three categories of tongue-tie or “tethered” tongue
- If you have a receded lower jaw, you probably have a narrow upper jaw and quite often a deep, vertical overbite. A receded lower jaw is often “trapped” backward by the narrow upper jaw or deep vertical overbite and will eventually narrow the throat leading to a restricted airway, predisposing one to sleep disordered breathing at any age.
- If you have an underbite at a young age, it is typically due to an underdeveloped upper jaw, which in turn is related to tongue position.
- If you have jaw joint noises (TMJ) you may have temporomandibular dysfunction (TMD) indicating the strong possibility of a dislocated joint with or without head, neck and facial pain.
- If you have a forward head posture, you more than likely have an airway problem or a malocclusion (bad bite).
In a nutshell:
If your upper jaw is too narrow and/or underdeveloped in some dimension, you have a malocclusion in most cases. The malocclusion will then contribute to postural compensations and muscular strain eventually leading to muscle spasms and pain. It is just a matter of time.
If you think you may have a malocclusion or TMJ, visit Differential DIagnosis to learn more.
Dr. J. Michael Dierkes, DDS, MS, NMD is a nationally recognized orthodontic specialist who has been creating beautiful smiles for over 30 years. His services have improved the lives of people from Roswell and the surrounding areas, including residents of Sandy Springs, Alpharetta, Marietta, and Atlanta. Whether you are an adult, a child, or a teenager, our knowledgeable staff is committed to helping you achieve the radiant, beautiful smile you deserve. Please call us today to schedule your initial consultation!