Ask Dr. Warren: What, exactly, is malocclusion?

Great question! ‘Malocclusion’ is what dentists refer to when teeth are not properly aligned in the mouth. There are many different types of malocclusion of varying degrees of severity. This may include teeth that are either crowded in the mouth, those that have uneven spacing between them or a person can have a deep bite,
whereby the upper front teeth overlap the lower front teeth more than the ideal 2 mm. In essence, every type of malocclusion presents its own risks for developing either periodontal disease, contributing to tooth or bone loss, creating premature wear, chipping of the teeth or trauma to the teeth.