Managing trauma and disease of the incisors and canines

Developmental abnormalities of the incisors are relatively common and appear to be most frequently seen as brachygnathism (‘parrot mouth’) where the mandible is relatively shorter than the maxilla (Figure 1). Overjet usually refers to the milder form of the condition, where the upper incisors protrude rostrally (labially) in the horizontal plane in relation to the mandibular incisors. Overbite is the more severe form of the condition in which the occlusal surface of the maxillary incisors is positioned ventrally to the mandibular incisors (Easley et al, 2016). The condition may be associated with overgrowths of cheek teeth, in particular the upper 06s and lower 11s. Prehension of food is rarely a problem with overjet, but orthodontic surgical correction can be attempted before 6 months of age in cases of overbite as some of these cases may be predisposed to chronic dental problems (Dixon, 2000).