Retrognathia is a misalignment of the teeth caused by abnormal positioning of the jaws, with the mandible more frequently affected than the maxilla. It can cause eating difficulties, affect dental health and alter facial appearance. Braces and surgery can correct the deformity, and good dental hygiene and protective headgear can help prevent it.
Retrognathia is a condition in which one jaw is positioned farther apart than normal behind the other. It is classified as a type of malocclusion, which is misalignment of the teeth caused by abnormal positioning of the jaws. Retrognathia is also called retrognathism and can be classified based on which jaw is affected.
The human jaw consists of the maxilla and mandible. The jaw is formed by two bones that fuse at the palate, thus forming the upper jaw. This structure holds the row of upper teeth in place. The mandible, which is shaped like a horseshoe, forms the lower jaw and fixes the lower row of teeth.
The mandible is more frequently affected by retrognathia than the maxilla. If so, the condition is called mandibular retrognathia. This means that the lower vessel recedes to the point where it is too far behind the upper jaw. Conversely, maxillary retrognathia involves recession of the upper jaw, pushing it behind the lower jaw.
Mandibular retrognathia is commonly but misclassified as overbite. The term overbite specifically refers to the anterior teeth of the maxilla overlapping those of the mandible. It does not refer to the mandible being too far back from the maxilla.
Retrognathia is mostly caused by genetics. Another common cause is injury or trauma, especially in situations where the jaw doesn’t heal properly. Newborns are particularly prone to the latter, as they are in an age group where bones are still forming. Other factors include bone infections and surgery for oral cancer.
While retrognathia is generally not a dangerous condition, it can cause eating difficulties, affect overall dental health, and alter facial appearance. People with this type of affliction may choose to correct the jaw deformity and get normal occlusion, which is the relationship between the upper and lower teeth, by opting for braces to align the teeth and grafting surgery or the removal of portions of the jaw. The orthodontists, who are responsible for the braces, and the dental surgeons, who perform the surgery, work together in the treatment of retrognathia.
To avoid retrognathia in particular and jaw deformities in general, doctors advise patients to observe good dental hygiene. People who are very active in sports may want to wear protective headgear. Since the childhood injury is considered a major factor in the occurrence of the condition, parents may want to check for damage to the jaw whenever the child falls or otherwise bumps into that area.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
