Possible symptoms of a jaw malposition
In many cases, jaw malpositions show no physical symptoms. The affected persons suffer rather on the psychological level, feel shame, do not dare to smile and feel strongly restricted in their daily life. Symptoms of a too small jawbone are usually nested teeth, and the lack of space is particularly noticeable through malocclusion in the front tooth region.
A jaw that is too large, on the other hand, shows itself through the presence of gaps between the teeth. In addition, teeth that are crooked increase the risk of caries due to the difficult cleaning conditions. Many patients with a jaw malposition complain of frequent headaches and pain in the temporomandibular joint, which are caused by an unfavorable load on the joint. Pronunciation can also be impaired, especially s- and z- sounds become increasingly unclear.
Costs of the jaw malposition
Up to the age of eighteen, orthodontic treatment against jaw malpositioning is covered by statutory and/or private health insurance, but in certain cases it is also possible that the insurance companies will cover at least part of the costs even after the patient has reached the age of eighteen. This is possible if a surgical therapy has to be performed in addition to the actual treatment of the jaw malposition.
Diagnosis of the jaw malposition
An existing malposition of the jaw can be easily and quickly detected by an orthodontist. The dentist first examines the situation inside the oral cavity, checks the number of teeth, their position in the jaw, their size and shape and the size ratio of the jaw in relation to the skull. Then impressions of the teeth are taken and a plaster model is made from them. The preparation of an x-ray image of the entire jaw (orthopantomogram; OPG for short) is also a standard part of orthodontic diagnostics. By means of the orthodontic indication positions, the orthodontist classifies the malocclusions according to their severity.
