Key Takeaways
- An uneven or asymmetrical jaw occurs when both sides of the jaw bone do not match.
- Over time, it may gradually impair your ability to talk and chew food, and may also negatively impact your self-esteem.
- Jaw alignment issues commonly arise due to genetics and family history, though other factors may also increase the risk, including teeth grinding.
What is an Asymmetrical Jaw?
An uneven or asymmetrical jaw is a condition where both sides of the jawbone do not match. One of the obvious signs of an asymmetrical jaw is an imbalanced appearance. This condition not only affects your facial symmetry but may also cause functional impairments that affect your ability to talk and chew food. Often, when the face is asymmetrical, both the upper and the lower jaw are affected. Some common forms of an asymmetrical jaw may include:
- Facial Differences: One side of the face might look sharper, more prominent, or higher than the other
- Visible jaw asymmetry: An obvious deviation of the chin to one side.
- Misalignment: The upper and lower teeth midlines do coincide at the centre of the face
- Uneven teeth on smiling: One side of the teeth looks lower than the other side when smiling
- Uneven Muscles: One side of the jaw (masseter muscle) may appear bulkier or stronger, often from teeth grinding or habitual chewing on one side.
Jaw Alignment Issues
Although bite issues may be a purely dental problem, it may also be a sign of a deeper skeletal problems. Some bite issues that arise due to skeletal discrepancies are:
- Overbite: The upper teeth protrude further ahead of the lower teeth. This may arise from a protrusive upper jaw and a retrusive lower jaw. A retrusive lower jaw may also cause obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA).
- Underbite: The lower teeth protrude further ahead of the upper teeth. This may arise from a protrusive lower jaw and a protrusive lower jaw.
- Cross bite: The upper teeth fit inside your lower teeth when you close your mouth. This may arise from jaw asymmetry or mouth breathing.
- Open bite: Both upper and lower teeth do not touch when your mouth is closed. This may arise from thumb sucking habits or other skeletal growth abnormalities.
Asymmetrical jaw or large under or overbite may also lead to self-esteem issues, as some people may experience bullying or feel self-conscious about how their jaw or teeth appear to others.
What Causes Jaw Alignment Issues?
Jaw alignment issues can arise due to various problems.
Trauma
An accident, fall, or injury can result in a broken, fractured, or dislocated jaw and present multiple complications. Apart from the risk of tooth loss, it can also cause changes that lead to a more asymmetric jaw, especially if you do not receive prompt treatment for it.
Genetics
If your family has a history of malocclusion or some other form of jaw alignment issues, you may also be at risk of inheriting this condition. Your genetics may also influence various physical aspects of your jawbones as well, which, in turn, may affect your risk of an asymmetrical jaw.ed jaw and present multiple complications. Apart from the risk of tooth loss, it can also cause changes that lead to a more asymmetric jaw, especially if you do not receive prompt treatment for it.
TMJ Problems
The temporomandibular joints (TMJ) are hinges that connect the lower jawbone to the skull. TMJ disorders are a common cause of jaw alignment issues, arising due to injury or a condition that affects the TMJs or the surrounding muscles and ligaments.
Childhood Habits
Some childhood habits can also influence jaw alignment that can carry over into adulthood. For example, children who continue to use a pacifier even after the age of three may be at a higher risk of malocclusion and crooked teeth. hinges that connect the lower jawbone to the skull. TMJ disorders are a common cause of jaw alignment issues, arising due to injury or a condition that affects the TMJs or the surrounding muscles and ligaments.
Teeth Grinding
Bruxism is an involuntary condition where you grind or clench your teeth without realising it, which can gradually cause jaw alignment issues.
Congenital Issues
Some conditions present at birth, such as cleft lip and palate, may cause irregularities affecting one or both sides of the face. This may then lead to gradual jaw misalignment or other related issues.
Symptoms of Jaw Alignment Issues
Common symptoms you may experience as a result of jaw alignment issues include:
- Periodic jaw or tooth pain
- Frequent accidental cheek bites
- Difficulty biting and chewing food
- Lisping or other speech difficulties
- Clicking sounds when moving your jaw
- Pain at the temporomandibular joints
- Risk of tooth decay
- Reduced self-esteem due to crooked teeth or an uneven bite or large over or underbites
Treating Jaw Alignment Issues
The treatment for jaw alignment issues will vary based on the severity of symptoms and how much it impacts your daily activities. Nonsurgical treatments are typically prescribed to help treat mild to moderate cases, while surgery may be recommended for more severe cases.
Nonsurgical Solutions
Botulinum Toxin Injections
Botulinum toxin (BTX) injections are directed at the masseter muscles (chewing muscles), temporarily blocking the nerves that control these muscles and preventing them from being overworked. These injections aim to provide pain relief while alleviating other symptoms caused by your asymmetrical jaw. Regular sessions may also be recommended for long-term management of these symptoms and to reduce your pain and discomfort when talking or eating. In cases where one side of the masseter muscles is more hypertrophic than the other, BTX injections can help to make the face more symmetrical.
A Botox injection procedure generally takes 10 to 30 minutes to perform and is carefully injected by a qualified professional into specific muscles. Results will take a few days to become noticeable, and aftercare instructions are provided to help with your recovery and prevent side effects.
Braces or Aligners
Braces or aligners can resolve mild to moderate overbite and underbite and can straighten crowded teeth. However, when the main issue is skeletal discrepancy, braces or aligners alone will not suffice and surgery has to be performed to treat the underlying issue.
Surgical Solutions
Orthognathic Surgery
Orthognathic surgery is a corrective jaw surgery procedure that aims to align the upper and lower jaws and correct an asymmetrical jaw. It will require careful measurements of your face, jaw, and teeth to take note of your maxillofacial characteristics and ensure that proper realignment is performed. As this is an extensive surgical procedure, it is only recommended if your asymmetrical jaw is significantly impairing your daily activities, especially when brushing your teeth, eating, or talking.
When the procedure is performed, you will be placed under general anaesthesia as the surgeon then makes planned cuts in either one or both of your jawbones to reposition them and treat the asymmetry or protrusive or retrusive jaw. The procedure will also require surgical plates and screws to be installed in place to hold the jawbones in the correct position.
Genioplasty
Genioplasty refers to a surgical procedure carried out on the chin by augmenting or reducing its size and may be helpful in addressing or camouflaging certain jaw alignment issues. For example, someone with a retrusive lower jaw and chin may undergo genioplasty advancement to improve the profile.
In this procedure, the surgeon will carefully perform a restructuring of the jaw and chin by cutting inside your mouth, right on the gum line. The surgeon then carefully separates the soft tissue from the bone and repositions it forward, backwards, or to the side, where it is needed. The surgeon will then use titanium plates and screws to secure the bone in place. Other options to augmenting the chin including the use of implants.
To learn more about treatments for an uneven or asymmetrical jaw, contact TES Clinic today.