This case illustrates an upper jaw deficiency resulting in an underbite. We have a small window of opportunity to address an underbite (Non-Surgical or Non-Extraction) that is related to a jaw discrepancy. For this case we are using Facemask Therapy to help gain positive Overbite and Overjet. In just 2.5 months time we were able to obtain the results below. This patient is still in active treatment but was very excited when she was no longer in the underbite position.

This patient presented to our office with an anterior crossbite. In this case we can illustrate the difference between the previous case which was a Skeletal problem (Discrepancy of the Jaws) versus in this case the patient is in an underbite due to a dental problem (Upper teeth are in a retroclined position). This patient is still in active treatment. The time between the start and progress photo is only 6 weeks. In that short amount of time Dr. Niepraschk was able to gain positive overbite and overjet resulting in improved function and esthetics.

This case illustrates a failed eruption process of the patients upper left central incisor. Even though he was only 10 yrs of age the patient was concerned with the esthetics of having only one central incisor. We were able to make a small window through the tissue to help the incisor erupt into its correct position. The patient was thrilled with the final esthetic results.

This case illustrates a narrow upper arch with a crossbite on the back teeth on one side only. Due to the narrow arch the patient is shifting her lower jaw to the right thus causing the crossbite and a shifting of the midlines of her teeth. In this case Dr. Niepraschk was able to expand the upper arch and do some minor tooth alignment to give her a great smile.

This case illustrates the large amount of crowding that can occur in a young patient (9yrs of age). The lower arch photo demonstrates that there is no space for the lower canines to erupt. The patient also presented with a 100% overbite (Deepbite). Dr. Niepraschk used expansion and limited braces to help address these issues. No extractions were needed. The patient was able to finish with increased space for the teeth to erupt and an improved healthy smile.

This case illustrates the effects of a late thumb sucking habit. Some of the more common side effects of this habit are: Narrowing of the upper arch/development of a cross bite on the back teeth, anterior open bite, protrusion of the upper front teeth, and spacing of the upper front teeth. If caught at a young age some of the effects can be reversible without doing anything but stopping the habit. If not then the habit can cause skeletal deformation of the upper jaw. In this case we were able to use a combination of habit appliance therapy, expansion, and limited braces to help improve her smile and function.

This case illustrates an ectopic eruption of a permanent tooth. This eruption pattern can happen in a case with crowding and non-crowding. In this case there was sufficient room for the tooth to erupt but the upper left lateral incisor erupted labial to the primary tooth. Our treatment plan consisted of Phase I treatment with limited braces in the upper arch and extraction of the primary upper left lateral incisor. This greatly improved the alignment of the anterior teeth.