Overbite is one of the most common malocclusions found in the people of America. It’s not only an aesthetic inconvenience. It takes a toll on your overall physical health. Moreover, overbite doesn’t spare your confidence also. But relax! Thankfully, modern orthodontics techniques can help you get rid of overbite and avoid all these unwanted issues in life.
Read this post to learn about the causes of an overbite, health problems related to overbite, and how to fix an overbite. Many patients also are doubtful that can invisalign fix overbite? Find answers to all these questions here.
What is Overbite?
First of all, let’s understand what is meant by overbite or overbite teeth. An overbite is a common dental problem where the upper teeth bite over the lower teeth. Overbites can be caused by genetics, bad habits, or incorrect jaw alignment. You may face multiple problems with an overbite, including pain in the jaw and teeth and difficulty chewing and speaking.
What are the Common Causes of Overbite?
These are the factors that generally lead to overbite teeth.
Genetics
According to experts, overbite is inherited in most patients. That means the abnormal growth of the jaw that leads to an overbite or deep bite runs in your family.
Bad Childhood Habits
Many kids have had bad oral habits since they are babies. They excessively suck their thumb or pacifier. This excessive pressure on the jaw and teeth leads to misalignment of teeth and bite issues.
Misaligned Teeth
Misaligned teeth often pave the way for an overbite because they instigate the overlap of upper teeth over bottom teeth. Misalignment can be genetic, or it can be a repercussion of early baby teeth loss.
Aging
Your bite deepens with age. But you don’t realize it much with a normal bite as this process is gradual. A mild overbite gets worse with age. Also, if you don’t wear a retainer after orthodontic treatment in the early years, it may show up as an overbite when you age.
Teeth Grinding and Clenching
If you grind or clench your teeth in sleep or awake condition, you have bruxism. The pressure caused due to these actions often leads to misalignment of teeth and overbite.
What are the Health Problems That Comes With an Overbite?
Overbite teeth don’t come alone. Apart from the issue of being aesthetically appalling, extreme Overbite leads to the following health problems walking into your life.
- Sleep apnea
- Changes in appearance, for instance, your chin getting smaller
- Difficulty chewing
- Cavities and tooth decay because of not being able to brush properly
- Headaches
- Jaw pain
- Difficulty in speaking or pronouncing correctly
- Jaw pain
How to Fix an Overbite?
Modern dentistry provides various treatment options to your orthodontist to fix your overbite. Some of the popular treatment options include.
Braces
Braces are generally used to straighten teeth. But they are often excellent for bite correction as well. Overbite braces are tied to your teeth so that they can pull your jaw and teeth in the correct direction through gradual pressure.
Invisalign
If your medical condition permits, your orthodontist would prefer Invisalign for overbite correction instead of braces. Invisalign treatment work in the same way as braces. However, it’s more convenient as the Invisalign aligners are removable. And they are made of clear plastic, so they save you the embarrassment that metal braces are known for.
Surgery
If the misalignment of the jawbone is responsible for your overbite, your orthodontist may need to perform surgery to treat you. But this scenario only happens with adults. A child’s jaw is still developing. So overbite braces or specially made Invisalign for overbite correction can treat misalignment of the jaw in a child.
Teeth Removal
Sometimes the jaw doesn’t align properly because of overcrowding or misalignment of teeth. Removing teeth may correct the overbite in such cases by creating enough space in your mouth for all the teeth to take proper positions.
Initially, you may not notice any health problems due to overbite. But untreated overbite teeth may lead you to face one or multiple of them later. Therefore, with so many options of overbite treatment available, you shouldn’t hesitate to get yourself diagnosed and treated. Contact your orthodontist today to get rid of overbite once and for all.
Author Bio:
Emily Taylor found the perfect fit for herself as the Online Marketing Manager at Thurman Orthodontics in Fresno CA as she believes that a great smile does more than just make a person look great – it makes them feel great as well. The power of a smile has always been a mystery to Emily, and she loves researching and writing about it. She loves to write about everything to do with a healthy bite and a beautiful smile – weather is it ways to achieve it or the importance of it in the various aspects of life. What brings a big smile on Emily’s face is her family and surfing. She also likes to bake, and her children and co-workers call her the cookie fairy!