Orthodontic problems generally result in a “malocclusion”, which literally means “bad bite”.
A malocclusion is when the teeth do not fit together properly due to improperly growing jaws, and/or improperly positioned teeth.
This can be due to a great number of factors including crowded teeth, spaced teeth, crooked teeth, extra teeth, missing teeth, early loss of baby teeth, impacted teeth, cleft palate, thumb or finger sucking habits, tongue thrust habit, mouth breathing, trauma, and periodontal disease among others.
There are both genetic factors and environmental influences involved with the formation of malocclusions.