Most bad bites are inherited. Examples of these genetic problems are:

crowding; teeth that protrude; extra teeth; spacing; missing teeth; tooth size discrepancy; uneven jaw growth...

Other malocclusion are acquired. In other words, they develop over time. These can have a variety of causes, including:

· thumb-sucking

· dental disease

· baby teeth that are lost too early or too late

Class II malocclusion – commonly  referred to as overbite – may or may not involve crooked or poorly-spaced teeth, and usually involves an upper jaw that is too far forward, a lower jaw that’s too far back, or a combination of both.

Class III malocclusion – also known as underbite – can involve several problems, including crossbite, and bottom front teeth that overlap the top.  Class III patients usually have an upper jaw that is underdeveloped, a lower jaw that is overdeveloped, or a combination of both.

Some pictures of common problems: