How To Fix An Overbite Without Braces
Smiling is one of the best nonverbal ways to communicate with others, making you more attractive and boosting your confidence. However, not everyone has perfect teeth. One of the imperfections some may experience is an overbite or buck tooth.
Braces are the primary treatment recommendation of orthodontists to improve an overbite. Your orthodontist may also recommend other types of treatment based on the severity of your case, your needs, and other factors.
What Is an Overbite?
An overbite or buck tooth is the misalignment of the teeth where the upper front teeth extend or stick out further than your lower front teeth. Overbites are a type of malocclusion, which refers to a group of bite problems.
What Causes An Overbite?
Most people only consider having their overbite treated when they experience complications. It is important to understand the causes of overbites and how to prevent them from worsening.
According To A Dentist In South Pasadena, The Common Causes Of An Overbite Are:
- Genetics
Having an overbite is a heritable trait, which means parents can pass it on to their children. If your parents have an overbite, you are more likely to have one.
- Overuse Of Pacifiers
According to the American Dental Association, there is a greater risk of developing malocclusion if you use pacifiers more than thumb-sucking during infancy.
- Missing Or Crowded Teeth
A missing tooth could change the alignment of your teeth and lead to malocclusions. On the other hand, overcrowding can cause your teeth to stick out because there is not enough space for all of them. Overcrowding can also lead to underbites.
- Tongue-Thrusting
Tongue-thrusting is when the tongue pushes against the front teeth, often occurring during childhood. It can also occur in adulthood due to many factors, such as swollen tonsils or poor chewing and swallowing habits. Stress can also cause this condition during sleep.
Other Causes Of Overbites Include:
- Teeth Grinding
- Excessive Nail-Biting
- Thumb-Sucking
How To Fix An Overbite
Overbite correction is important for many reasons. It affects your appearance and causes other problems like jaw pain, teeth wear, misalignment, and tooth loss. It also increases the risk of tooth breakage and speech problems.
Fortunately, Orthodontists Offer Many Treatment Options For Overbites. These Include:
- Invisalign
Invisalign can help fix your overbite if you aren’t comfortable with braces. They use a series of clear trays to move teeth into the correct position. You can switch these trays for a new one until they correct your overbite. However, Invisalign is more expensive than braces. They are popular because of their discreteness and quicker correction time that usually finishes in a year. Similar to braces, Invisalign can also be used for children even if their jaws are still developing.
- Tooth Extraction
Your dentist can perform tooth extractions to correct your overbite if it’s caused by overcrowding. Removing one or more of your teeth may restore the alignment of your jaw and teeth.
- Surgery
Jaw surgery may be necessary if your overbite is too severe for braces to correct. It can help correct overbites caused by misaligned jaw bones, which occur when the upper and lower jaws grow at different rates. Jaw surgery can modify and realign the jaw bones, and it may require patients to wear braces before and after the surgery.
- Appliances
Appliances like head gears are another option for teens and children who are still growing. They can correct the gap between upper and lower teeth and are often combined with traditional braces to align upper and lower jaws.
These appliances are used to either support the growth of your upper jaw or place the lower jaw, causing your jaw joint to develop differently and adjust to the lower jaw’s new position.
- Braces
Dental braces, also known as overbite braces, are the most popular option for correcting an overbite or other dental problems like misaligned or crooked teeth. They help correct overbites by aligning and straightening crooked teeth on both the top and bottom of the mouth. Orthodontists may add coils, springs, and bands to help shift and align your jaw once your teeth are no longer crooked. Braces for overbites are made from metal or ceramic.
Braces are fixed to the teeth; they cannot be removed and must be worn for one to three years. They apply constant pressure on your teeth, moving them to the optimal position over time.
Once you’re done with braces treatment, your orthodontist will require you to wear a retainer. Depending on your orthodontist’s recommendations, you can wear this removable device all day or just at night. It also helps to align your jaw and teeth, preventing your overbite from returning.
Key Takeaway
Overbite is a common condition that can be mild or severe. They are commonly treated with braces, but aligners like Invisalign can also correct minor or moderate overbites. However, overbites due to the misalignment of the upper and lower jaw may need surgery. Braces may also be necessary.
If you’re looking at fixing your overbite but find it hard to get a reliable dentist, you can always do a quick internet search for a phrase like “dentist near me lake jackson”. Doing so will provide you a list of options that you can reach out to quite easily.