malocclusion

American  

[mal-uh-kloo-zhuhn] / ˌmæl əˈklu ʒən /

noun

Dentistry.

1. faulty occlusion; irregular contact of opposing teeth in the upper and lower jaws.

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malocclusion British  

/ ˌmæləˈkluːʒən /

noun

1. dentistry a defect in the normal position of the upper and lower teeth when the mouth is closed, as from abnormal development of the jaw

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malocclusion Scientific  

/ măl′ə-klo̅o̅′zhən /

1. Misalignment between the upper and lower teeth when the jaw is closed, resulting in a faulty bite.

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Other Word Forms

• maloccluded adjective

Etymology

Origin of malocclusion

First recorded in 1885–90; mal- + occlusion

Explanation

If your dentist tells you that you've got a malocclusion, she means that your top and bottom teeth don't fit together quite the way they should. Edward Angle, the American dentist known as the "father of orthodontics" popularized the word malocclusion around 1864, using it to describe a misaligned bite. A malocclusion is one of the reasons people get braces, with the goal of bringing the upper and lower teeth into alignment. The word is formed by adding the prefix mal-, or "bad," to occlusion, "position of the teeth when the mouth is closed," and its root meaning "to close."

Example Sentences

But Squirt had a wonky jaw — a malocclusion, possibly from the fall — and Brian had to clip his teeth every week or so.

From Washington Post • Apr. 8, 2023

Mr. Friedman was told he had a skeletal malocclusion, which severely limited his airways.

From New York Times • Jun. 18, 2021

In 2007 and again in 2018, he challenged the American Association of Orthodontists about specific claims on its website: namely, that malocclusion can cause loss of teeth, speech impediment, and poor nutrition.

From Slate • Jul. 27, 2020

"In addition, children who are breast-fed are less likely to use a pacifier, which is considered a risk factor for malocclusion."

From US News • Jun. 15, 2015

Doctors, says Dr. Bakwin, are prone to diagnose flat feet, large tonsils, malocclusion, heart murmur and poor posture as serious ailments when they are only normal variations that would be better let alone.

From Time Magazine Archive