An overbite is an orthodontic issue that causes your upper teeth to stick out over your lower teeth by a proportion of 30-50 percent. It can seem like your overbite is simply an issue with crooked teeth, but it actually means that your teeth and jaw are not properly aligning.
If a person has an overbite left untreated, it can cause some serious dental complications. These can include tooth decay that is far from normal, including cavities, worn down enamel and gum disease. Fortunately, there are surgical and nonsurgical orthodontic treatments to help fix an overbite.
Braces are a two-stage procedure and are one of the most normal treatments for correcting an overbite. First, the dentist places metal brackets on the patient’s teeth and connects them with a wire. This will align and straighten the teeth. Once this phase is complete, attention can be given to the overbite itself. Rubber bands, springs and coils are placed on the braces to begin the slow shift of the jawline into the appropriate placement.
This orthodontic treatment can take anywhere from six months to two years.
This treatment option involves transparent aligners that will shift a patient’s teeth into the proper place. The new aligners are worn for 22 hours each day and are switched out every two weeks with a new pair. It is common for the treatment to take nine months to a year to complete.
While this treatment is designed for teeth straightening, it can also become a customized plan that shifts both the teeth and the jawline. This can help fix a patient’s overbite, as long as it is not too severe. If the case is extreme, then this option is probably not the one to consider.
In order to shift a person’s teeth, a specific amount of room is needed to anticipate the movement. If a patient has overly crowded teeth, there might not be enough space for proper teeth shifting to occur. In this case, tooth extractions may be necessary to allow for more room.
In some cases, an overbite may be skeletal in nature. This means that surgery could be required so the jaw can be moved into a natural position. During the procedure, the surgeon may correct the misalignment by reshaping the bone, adding to it or taking away from it. Then the jaw will be kept in this new position using surgical plates, wires, screws and rubber bands.
Surgery is more likely to occur in older patients. Children’s jaws are easier to shift because they are still in the developmental and growth stage.
Do not wait for your overbite to cause excessive damage to your teeth or gums. Talk to your dental team about ways you can address and correct it. Invisalign, braces, extractions and surgery are all potential orthodontic options and you should find the one that is right for you and your needs.
The amount of time and money you want to spend can all influence your decision, so creating the right treatment plan is important.
Request an appointment here: https://www.smilesbydesignhuntsville.com or call Smiles by Design, PC at (256) 660-3233 for an appointment in our Huntsville office.
Check out what others are saying about our services on Yelp: Read our Yelp reviews.
For those dealing with crooked teeth or an uneven smile, Invisalign® is a teeth-straightening alternative to metal braces. Wearing a dental device potentially impacts an individual’s self-esteem, and traditional wire braces can detract from looking professional or mature. Clear aligners offer similar results to metal braces without the same highly visible profile. The entire treatment…
Dentists perform dental cleaning to prevent problems like tooth decay and gum disease. A dental cleaning procedure is more intensive than your daily oral hygiene routine.Read on to find out why aftercare is necessary after a dental cleaning. The following also explains how to care for your teeth after professional teeth cleaning.Dentists advise their patients…
The American Dental Association recommends that people visit the dental office once every six months for dental cleaning and checkups to discourage bacteria colonies from developing and causing dental problems like tooth cavities and gum disease. Professional dental cleanings will eliminate plaque, while dental examinations will enable your general dentist to assess the condition of…
There are generally no preparations that are required for a dental cleaning. However, there are certain things that you can do to help ensure the visit goes well. This is particularly useful for patients that may have dental anxiety or not know what they should expect for the visit.The best ways to prepare for dental…