Methods for Overbite Correction

By Jessie Baugher
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Updated: September 2, 2018

How to fix overbite – Having a clean, sparkling white, perfectly aligned teeth with a beautiful smile is what everyone wants. However, people, whether they are children or adults, can suffer from a condition called malocclusion. Overbite is one type of malocclusions. A malocclusion, including an overbite, has something to do with teeth alignment. Overbites are presents when lower teeth are overlapped by upper teeth excessively. In some cases, overbites are understood as a hereditary condition. But a malformed jaw can cause overbites, too. It is caused by some habits developed during early childhood such as using bottle-feeding too long, thumb-sucking, and even nail-biting.

How to Fix an Overbite

Can overbites be corrected? The answer is yes. There are some correction methods but before you take any of them, start by diagnosing at home. Self-diagnosing can be simply done by closing your mouth normally to find out whether your teeth overlap at the bottom in natural position. Next, smile and look in a mirror. This will help you to notice the overlap clearly. These home tests are just aimed to know whether you may have an overbite. You should definitely go to a dentist after that because if left untreated, some problems may occur such as chewing problems, speaking difficulty, tooth decay, and mouth breathing.

A dental exam will be performed by your dentist to see if you have an overbite. The most common method to diagnose overbites is using dental X-rays. From an X-ray, the jaw and teeth can be clearly visualized. This is particularly important in children as the dentist can also see the position of their permanent teeth which do not erupt yet. After the diagnosis, the dentist will recommend some treatment options. If an overbite is present, he will refer you to an orthodontist to correct it.

In children, wearing braces is one of the most common methods to correct the overbite. Braces give to pressure and direct teeth to be in a good alignment. Using braces can cause discomfort especially in the first two weeks. It can even cause sore and irritation. The problems usually disappear as you get used to the braces. If problems keep occurring, consult your orthodontist. While braces are considered to realigned children’s teeth, teenagers and adults can try to get aligners. They are more practical to be used as they can simply be removed for brushing and eating. Aligners are also invisible so they are perfect for teenagers or adults who don’t feel confident wearing braces.

If the braces, aligners, and other orthodontic treatments fail to fixing overbite, your dentist will suggest you take oral surgical procedure. In some cases, overbites are just too severe that orthodontic treatments can correct them. Oral surgery is done to move the jaw. This is called orthognathic surgery. Before the surgery, a patient needs to use braces for about a year to level and align his teeth. An aligner is worn six weeks after the surgery. After the teeth perfectly aligned, your orthodontist will remove the aligner or braces. This surgery requires a general anesthesia. Aftercare surgery includes taking pain medication and a modified diet.

image: bracesorinvisalign.com