Essential Facts About Correcting an Overbite

Overbites occur when the upper teeth stick out over the lower teeth at a 30-50% proportion. The condition, also known as malocclusion, causes teeth misalignment due to the overlap between the upper set of teeth and the lower set. Overbites cause self-esteem issues because the front teeth cannot bite appropriately due to the misalignment, which affects eating and smiling. Besides, overbites are associated with adverse health problems, such as headaches, jaw grinding and teeth clenching, neck pain, alternation of facial structure and speech problems. However, overbites can be fixed through dental procedures, including dental crowns, tooth contouring, jaw surgery and bite reconstruction. Read on to find out more about fixing an overbite.

Types of Overbites 

Overbites fall into two categories, namely vertical and horizontal. Vertical overbites occur because of the significant overlap between the top set of teeth and the bottom set. On the other hand, horizontal overbites refer to the protrusion of the top set of teeth over the bottom set. Some patients exhibit both vertical and horizontal overbites. An overbite can also be caused by teeth misalignment (dental overbite) or jaw complications, also known as a skeletal overbite.

Causes of Overbites 

The shape and size of teeth and jaw are often the most common causes of overbites. For example, spacing issues in the jaw area can affect the growth of teeth. If there is no adequate space, your teeth are likely to crowd and become crooked. An overbite can also be caused by children or infant habits, including thumb-sucking and overuse of sucking bottles and pacifiers, which push the tongue against the teeth. Similarly, chewing of objects, such as pencils and nails, often leads to overbites among teens and adults. Other causes of overbites include grinding teeth, genetics and TMJ.

Correcting Overbites 

An overbite is often caused by worn out or missing teeth at the back of the jaw, leading to overlapping. Fortunately, a dentist can rehabilitate your bite to reduce tooth overlap. Some of the treatment options for bite reconstruction include dental implants, bridges, crowns and partial dentures, which increase the height of your bite. Braces are used to treat most overbite issues after an X-ray is performed to establish the extent of misalignment. Braces are fitted to the top and lower arches of the teeth for proper alignment. If overcrowding is the cause of an overbite, you might need a tooth extraction. Tooth extraction creates room for the growth of natural teeth, solving overbite issues. In rare circumstances, surgery is required to correct an overbite, especially when caused by jaw problems. Nonetheless, an oral surgeon can perform surgery to align the jaw.