Common Orthodontic Issues in Milwaukee
If your teeth feel crowded, your bite seems off, or you’ve noticed jaw strain, you may be dealing with a common orthodontic issue. Malocclusion (the misalignment of teeth or jaws) affects people of all ages and takes many forms, from overbites and underbites to crossbites and crowded teeth. The team at Griffin Orthodontics in Oak Creek and West Allis, WI has helped thousands of Milwaukee-area patients correct these issues with cutting-edge, personalized treatment. Here’s what you need to know.
What Is Malocclusion? Understanding Bite Misalignment
Malocclusion refers to any condition where the teeth or jaws are not properly aligned. The term comes from the Latin for “bad bite” — and it’s one of the most common reasons patients visit an orthodontist. At Griffin Orthodontics, our Oak Creek and West Allis orthodontic specialists treat malocclusion in children, teens, and adults every single day.
Bite problems can affect much more than aesthetics. Misaligned teeth can make chewing uncomfortable, strain the jaw joints (TMJ), impact speech clarity, make proper brushing and flossing more difficult, and even lead to uneven tooth wear over time. The good news? Modern orthodontic treatments — from custom braces to clear aligners — can correct virtually every type of malocclusion at almost any age. We also have a guide to help you navigate your initial consultation and questions to ask, you can view that here.
Below, we break down the most common orthodontic issues we treat at our Milwaukee-area orthodontic offices and the treatment options available for each.
Crossbite
When Upper and Lower Teeth Don’t Line Up Side-to-Side
A crossbite occurs when one or more upper teeth bite inside (rather than outside) the corresponding lower teeth. This misalignment can occur in the front of the mouth (anterior crossbite) or toward the back (posterior crossbite), and sometimes both simultaneously. Unlike an overbite or underbite — which involve the entire bite — a crossbite may affect just one or two teeth, or an entire section of the bite.
Crossbites are worth addressing promptly. Over time, they can lead to uneven and accelerated wear on the affected teeth, gum recession, and even asymmetric jaw growth if left untreated in growing patients.
Underbite
An underbite occurs when the lower front teeth sit in front of the upper front teeth when the mouth is closed. This is the reverse of the more common overbite. Underbites can range from subtle — where only a few teeth are affected — to more pronounced, where the entire lower jaw appears to jut forward noticeably.
Beyond appearance, an untreated underbite can make it difficult to bite into foods properly, may contribute to uneven wear on specific teeth, and can sometimes affect how certain sounds are formed during speech.
Overbite
An overbite (sometimes called a “deep bite”) occurs when the upper front teeth overlap too far vertically over the lower front teeth. While a small degree of overlap is completely normal, a pronounced overbite can create real problems over time — including jaw muscle strain, excessive wear on the lower front teeth, and in more severe cases, gum irritation where the lower teeth make contact with the roof of the mouth.
Overbites are often hereditary, though habits like thumb sucking or prolonged pacifier use in early childhood can contribute.
Common Treatment Options for Crossbite
- Braces or clear aligners — Used to reposition individual teeth or groups of teeth into proper alignment
- Palatal expanders — A palatal (or palate) expander gradually widens the upper jaw, making room for teeth to align properly and correcting the width discrepancy that causes posterior crossbites
- Customized orthodontic treatment plans — Because crossbites vary so widely in type and severity, treatment at Griffin Orthodontics always begins with a comprehensive assessment and a plan built specifically for you
Common Treatment Options for Overbite
- Spark Clear Aligners — A virtually invisible, removable aligner system ideal for mild to moderate overbites in teens and adults
- KLOwen Custom Braces — Fully custom-fabricated metal braces designed for your unique bite geometry, often achieving faster correction than traditional brackets
- LightForce Ceramic Braces — Tooth-colored, 3D-printed ceramic brackets that blend with your smile while applying precise corrective forces
Common Treatment Options for Underbite
- Braces or clear aligners — Effective for dental underbites where the issue is primarily tooth position rather than jaw structure
- Orthodontic expanders — Palate expanders can help widen the upper arch to bring it into better alignment with the lower jaw
- Coordinated orthodontic care — More complex skeletal underbites may require a combination of orthodontic appliances and coordinated care; our team will walk you through all options at your free consultation
Other Common Orthodontic Issues We Treat
Overbites, underbites, and crossbites are among the most recognized bite problems — but they’re far from the only orthodontic issues our Milwaukee-area patients seek treatment for. Here are several other common conditions we address at our Oak Creek and West Allis offices:
Crowded Teeth
Dental crowding occurs when there isn’t enough space in the jaw for all the teeth to erupt and align properly. Crowded teeth often overlap, twist, or get pushed out of the dental arch entirely. Beyond aesthetics, crowding makes thorough brushing and flossing difficult — increasing the risk of plaque buildup, cavities, and gum disease. Crowding is one of the most common reasons patients seek orthodontic care.
Spacing and Gaps
The opposite of crowding, dental spacing refers to extra space between teeth — whether a single prominent gap between the two front teeth (diastema) or spacing distributed across multiple teeth. Gaps can develop due to missing teeth, teeth that are smaller than average for the jaw size, or as a side effect of tooth loss. Spacing issues can also allow the gums and bone between teeth to become exposed and vulnerable.
Open Bite
An open bite occurs when the upper and lower front teeth don’t make contact when the mouth is closed — leaving a visible gap even with the jaw shut. Open bites can make biting into certain foods difficult and can contribute to speech patterns like lisping. Prolonged thumb sucking or pacifier use, as well as tongue thrust habits, are common contributing factors.
Rotated Teeth
Individual teeth can become rotated — turned at an angle within the dental arch — due to crowding, early loss of baby teeth, or other developmental factors. Rotated teeth can affect the overall alignment of the bite and create spaces that are difficult to clean effectively.
Treatment Options for These Issues
- Spark Clear Aligners — Removable, nearly invisible aligners effective for a wide range of spacing, crowding, and alignment issues in teens and adults
- LightForce Ceramic Braces — Aesthetically pleasing ceramic brackets that blend with tooth color while delivering precise tooth movement
- KLOwen Custom Metal Braces — Fully individualized braces fabricated specifically for your tooth anatomy — particularly well-suited for complex crowding or rotation cases
FREE FOR NEW PATIENTS
Not Sure Which Treatment is Right for You?
Our Milwaukee-area orthodontic specialists at Oak Creek and West Allis offer free, no-obligation consultations. We’ll evaluate your bite, explain your options, and build a custom treatment plan — at no cost to you.
When Should You See an Orthodontist in Milwaukee?
The American Association of Orthodontists recommends that children receive their first orthodontic evaluation by age 7 — even before all the permanent teeth have erupted. This doesn’t necessarily mean treatment begins at 7, but early assessment allows our team to identify developing issues and time any necessary intervention for maximum effectiveness.
That said, there is no upper age limit for orthodontic care. Adults make up a growing percentage of orthodontic patients, and modern clear aligner systems like Spark aligners have made discreet adult treatment more accessible than ever.
If you or a family member has noticed any of the following, it’s time to schedule a consultation at Griffin Orthodontics in Oak Creek or West Allis, WI:
- Teeth that visibly overlap, crowd, or have noticeable gaps
- Difficulty chewing, biting, or speaking clearly
- Jaw clicking, popping, or discomfort
- Mouth breathing or prolonged thumb/finger sucking habits
- Baby teeth that were lost unusually early or late
- Teeth that don’t seem to meet properly when biting down
Frequently Asked Questions
Griffin Orthodontics proudly serves Oak Creek and the surrounding communities of Franklin, Caledonia, Cudahy, and South Milwaukee. Conveniently located on West Rawson Avenue, our office is minutes from patients across southern Milwaukee County.
