Overbite Problems: Causes, Children, Teens and Adult Treatment Options
Many people just ignore overbite problems considering they are difficult, expensive and time consuming to achieve but actually it’s not. Overbite problems may lead to other severe health complications for you such as tooth decay and gum disease if not corrected on time. Fixing your overbite problems does not only prevent dental problems in future but also beautify your smile.
Mostly people do not even know if they have an overbite problem so it is really necessary that you know what causes an overbite problem and what its treatment options are. But before that, you must understand what an overbite is.
What is an Overbite?
Medically an overbite problem is referred to as a kind of malocclusion that occurs when the lower and upper jaws and/or teeth are not aligned, causing the upper front teeth to cover the lower front teeth.
Causes of Overbite
In overbite causes, genetics plays an integral role. Usually an overbite is hereditary with people being born with malformed jaws developing in an uneven manner but in some people it can also be caused due to the jaw not forming correctly in growing age. In children, Childhood tendencies such as thumb-sucking or prolonged bottle-feeding or pacifier use can cause or worsen an overbite.
These habits constantly push upper teeth and bone in a more forward position while the thumb itself pushes lower teeth back creating a misalignment in teeth.
Sometimes, overbite is simply created with crooked teeth when teeth and jaws are not properly aligned. In teens and adults, the habit of chewing pencil, or nail biting can cause an overbite.
However, a few other causes than genetics and bad habits are grinding teeth, TMJ Temporomandibular joint dysfunction.
Why Overbite Treatment Is Important and Necessary
Overbite is already complex and delaying its treatment may lead to severe dental and related health problems including possible jaw pain, irreparable damage to teeth from abnormal positioning, gum damage, difficulty in speaking and chewing, sleep apnea, jaw pain, such as temporomandibular joint disorders (TMJ) and so on.
Overbite Treatment Options
When you visit orthodontic Experts, our orthodontist examines you for all dental problems and diagnoses the severity of overbite as well as suggests the best method of overbite correction. However, for most people it is orthodontic treatment that does not only fix your bite but straightens your teeth to gain a beautifully aligned smile. In severe overbite cases, where overbite is due to a malformed jaw, a surgery may be required.
Here at orthodontic experts we have a variety of orthodontic treatment options to correct and fix overbite problems. Before starting your treatment an Initial x-rays are taken to determine the type of overbite and the relationship between teeth and jaw in determining the best possible treatment for you.
A few orthodontic treatments that you will receive at Orthodontic experts for correcting an overbite are:
Children & Teens Overbite Treatment Options
The most common issue that causes an overbite in children and teens is crowding of teeth. Through orthodontic treatment, our orthodontist attempt in several ways:
- Remove baby teeth to make a room for permanent teeth and let them grow straight
- Better position the jaw by using growth modification device
- Using braces for kids and teens to slowly move the teeth to correct the overbite and the jaw.
- Use post-braces retainers to keep teeth in place after treatment.
Adult Overbite Treatment Options
Adults lead to the more severe symptoms associated with overbites due to the lack of preventative treatment early in life and then later in life they need to undergo an orthodontic treatment which involves:
- Braces for adults that moves only the teeth to correct an overbite
- Teeth removal is another option for correcting an overbite and preventing it from growing further serious but in severe overbite cases teeth removal becomes necessary to allow other teeth to move freely. However, this procedure is not recommended by dentists and orthodontists for minor overbite cases.
- The only solution for skeletal type overbite is surgery for adults.
Whether you are a child, teen or an adult and experiencing an overbite problem then do not put it off till forever. Immediately make an appointment with your dentist and orthodontist to avoid the potentially severe physical repercussions of leaving an overbite untreated. Doctor’s association recommends a dental checkup for a child maximum by the age of 7 years for early detection of dental issues including overbite problem.
