malocclusion

/ˌmæləˈkluːʒən/

Etymology First attested in 1888. Formed as mal- (“wrong”, “improper(ly)”: ultimately from the Classical Latin male, “badly”, “wrongly”; from malus, “bad”; compare the ben- element in benocclusion) + occlusion (“alignment of the teeth in closed jaws”).

Related terms

malocclude, crossbite, open bite, overbite, retrognathism, underbite