According to the studies, an overbite is a common dental issue in 10-22% of people. This is a type of malocclusion in which the front teeth jut over the bottom teeth and cause potential problems in speaking, eating, and smiling.
This blog will discuss how overbite causes other dental complications, why it must be treated, and reliable treatment options. Here at Oral Directions, you can find solutions about how to kill tooth pain nerves in 3 seconds, infant teething problems, and much more.
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What is an Overbite?
A type of malocclusion occurs when your upper teeth overlap the lower teeth by more than 20% of the overlap. It creates issues while breathing, chewing, or speaking. Additionally, it can make people self-conscious while smiling, affecting their personality and confidence.
A slight overbite is normal and doesn’t affect overall, but having an overlap of more than 2 to 4 millimeters is an overbite that can cause jaw pain, bite-size issues, and other oral health conditions. Minor overbite cases are not easily detectable unless examined by a professional. Moreover, they are treatable using traditional braces or Invisalign for a few months. Not treating an overbite leads to other complications, which include:
- Speech issues
- Breathing issues
- Jaw pain
- Difficulty in swallowing food
- Tooth decay
Types of Overbites:
When talking about the types, there are two major overbite types which are:
- Dental
- Skeletal
Dental:
Dental overbites are the ones about your teeth positioning. It mainly occurs when the upper teeth are lifted more than the lower teeth. Such a type occurs due to the disturbance of dental development for any reason, such as loss of back teeth, poor dental habits, or overcrowding.
The teeth’ poor positioning results in an overbite, which can be easily treated with braces and aligners.
Skeletal:
They are more related to the jawbone structure, which is vital in bite-size. This misalignment type causes the jaws and teeth to develop incorrectly. This type is treatable with comprehensive treatment, including a combination of braces and some other appliances or jaw surgery.
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Overbite Vs. Overjet
These are two different types of malocclusion that are becoming common. Overjet is a similar term but has a different meaning. According to the experts, an overjet is a horizontal misalignment in which the upper teeth protrude diagonally over the lower teeth.
Moreover, an overbite has the following properties that make it distinguishable from all other types of misalignment:
- The chin is pulled back
- Horizontal overlap
- Upper teeth stick out
- Upper teeth may extend outward
Overbite Vs. Underbite
According to the American Association of Orthodontists, an underbite refers to the condition where the lower jaw of the mouth rests in front of the upper jaw when the pair is brought closer. An overbite vs underbite, as explained above, is the condition of front teeth resting significantly forward than the lower teeth.
Underbites fall under the category of skeletal issues, which reveals that the problem is related to jaw development. This is termed class III malocclusion as it is not easily detectable by laypersons but needs a professional. If left untreated, the front teeth are at risk of wearing down the sour bite.
What Causes an overbite?
An overbite is caused by many reasons, including genetics. Additionally, the other potential reasons include:
- Teeth grinding
- Thumb sucking
- Pacifier use
- Bruxism
- Nail biting
Signs & Symptoms of an Overbite:
If you are an individual who is always enjoying healthy teeth, there is a chance that you will miss out on the potential signs and symptoms of an overbite. Understanding the signs of a bite-size issue initially helps treat it at times. So, here are some signs that you must notice:
- Facial pain
- Difficulty chewing food
- Altered facial expressions
- Speech problems
- Difficulty in opening and closing the mouth
- Difficulty while eating and chewing
Addressing an overbite issue at an early stage can prevent many complications. In addition, seeking professional help promptly can enhance a patient’s life by introducing dental treatments from the beginning.
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How to Fix an Overbite?
The good news is that it is easily treatable at any age. Such a dental treatment type depends on some factors such as the severity of a case, the patient’s budget, oral needs, and age. Children’s bones and jaws develop and become soft when they grow. So, it is easy to treat overbite in children using the following treatments:
- Palate expanders
- Braces
- Retainers
- Headgear and more
For adults, bite-size issues can mess up their smile. The jaws, teeth, and bones become hard to realign and reshape with age. Therefore, oral surgery is best to achieve the perfect smile. Here are the proper methods to look forward to treat deep bites in adults:
- Braces with rubber bands, Herbst appliances, or Forsus springs
- Jaw surgery and braces
- Tooth extraction followed by braces
- Invisalign
Besides using braces, one must look into some drawbacks before deciding. For instance, although Invisalign is effective, it is pretty expensive.
Moreover, when using traditional braces, one must understand the discomfort and pain of the wires and buckets attached to the teeth.
Is Surgery Effective Enough to Fix Skeletal Overbite?
Studies reveal successful cases where dental surgery unites with other dental treatments to yield the best results. Braces and Invisalign are sometimes not enough to cure severe bite issues. Then comes jaw surgery, also known as orthognathic surgery, which involves fixing the bite by cutting the jawbone to reposition it.
In this procedure, the jawbone is repositioned by making cuts in the jaw. A dental surgeon ensures that your jaws are correctly aligned and then secures them in a new position using plates and screws.
FAQs
Is it OK to have an overbite?
A bite-size problem is never typical as it leads to some other complications. You can determine its severity through a dental examination and look for possible options.
Can you naturally correct overbite?
To naturally correct the bite-size issues, the best way is to look for preventive measures from childhood. For example, I am not using a pacifier for an extended period, preventing thumb sucking and such habits.
Can overbite be fixed with braces?
Braces are one of the best treatment methods for tackling overbites. They are beneficial for aligning the teeth and improving overall jaw structure.
Can overbite be cured?
An overbite is curable at any age, but the treatment options vary. It depends on the cause, and the problems it is causing. Moreover, the patients can look for different options according to their budget.