Symptoms

The most obvious sign of malocclusion is crooked or protruding teeth. Physical symptoms of malocclusion are uncommon but can range from mild to severe. Have your general or pediatric dentist evaluate whether a poor bite is causing:

• Difficulty chewing food.
• Problems with biting the cheek or roof of the mouth.
• Slurring speech, trouble saying certain words, or other speech problems.
• Pain in the facial muscles or jaw.
• Permanent teeth coming in (erupting) at the wrong position.

Adult malocclusion symptoms will typically remain the same or get worse over the years. Symptoms in a child who has mild malocclusion may improve over time. Through the teen years, the jaw grows dramatically. This growth period may correct mild crowding of teeth or teeth shifting as a result of thumb-sucking.