The term occlusion can mean a number of things. In dentistry the term applies to the alignment of the upper an lower jaw when they are brought together and biting down. In other fields of medicine it refers to anything that is blocking the flow of either blood or air. Since this is a website about dentistry, we'll just talk about the dental side of the term.

       When you're talking about an occlusion you do not want to hear malocclusion because this is a predicts orthodontic treatment in the future. Malocclusion means "bad bite" and pretty simply refers to any alignment of the teeth that is not beneficial. When two arches do not align properly it can be due to a large number of possible orthodontic problems. These orthodontic problems can cause a great deal of medical grief and it is always a good idea to fix them as soon as possible.

       It is easier to fix an occlusion that is not as it should be when a person is young. Child orthodontics focuses on preventing problems by controlling the way a child's mouth grows. This kid of orthodontic care can reduce the treatment time for braces later on, sometimes even eliminating the need all together. Invisalign is a new way of fixing a malocclusion that does not use ugly orthodontic brackets for braces and is almost completely invisible.

       If you would like to learn more about your occlusion and how to treat a malocclusion, please consider visiting the Atlanta Dental Group PC. Our Atlanta dental team has over 45 years of combined dental experience serving Atlanta's dental needs. Our dentists are dedicated to their patients' good health and well being and you are more than welcome to join our family of patients. If you would like schedule a free orthodontic consultation with our Atlanta cosmetic dentist, Dr. Mark Allan Padolsky, call to make an appointment at 404-874-7428.