An overbite occurs when the upper front teeth overlap the lower front teeth. This dental alignment issue can affect individuals of all ages, who often seek correction for both aesthetic and health reasons.
Understanding the Condition
An overbite, also known as a deep bite, is a type of malocclusion where the upper teeth vertically overlap the lower teeth more than 2 to 4 millimeters. Overbites can stem from genetic factors or childhood habits like prolonged thumb-sucking, pacifier use, nail-biting, or tongue-thrusting.
Untreated overbites can lead to various oral health issues. These include uneven wear on tooth enamel, jaw pain, headaches, and temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders. Individuals might also experience difficulty chewing, speech impediments, gum disease, or an increased risk of tooth decay. Overbites can also affect facial symmetry and appearance.
Common Non-Surgical Approaches
Most overbites are corrected through non-surgical orthodontic treatments, which reposition teeth and modify jaw growth, especially in younger patients. Traditional braces use brackets, wires, and elastic bands to apply continuous pressure, moving teeth into proper alignment and guiding jaw movement.
Clear aligners are another non-surgical option, particularly for mild to moderate overbites. These transparent, removable trays are custom-made and changed every one to two weeks to incrementally shift teeth. Clear aligners provide a discreet alternative to braces and can be removed for eating and oral hygiene.
Other orthodontic appliances influence jaw development. Palatal expanders widen a narrow upper jaw, creating more space for teeth and improving bite alignment. Herbst appliances hold the lower jaw forward, encouraging its growth and helping to correct the overbite. Orthodontic headgear can also influence jaw growth in children by guiding jaw development.
Surgical Intervention
For severe overbites, particularly those caused by a significant discrepancy in jaw bone size, orthognathic surgery, also known as corrective jaw surgery, may be necessary. This procedure is typically recommended when non-surgical orthodontic treatments alone cannot adequately resolve the issue. Jaw surgery aims to realign the jaw bones, ensuring that the upper and lower jaws fit together correctly.
The surgery may involve repositioning the upper jaw (maxilla), lower jaw (mandible), or both. It is often performed in conjunction with orthodontic treatment, with braces used both before and after the surgery to align the teeth within the newly positioned jaws. Orthognathic surgery can significantly improve chewing, speaking, breathing, and facial symmetry for individuals with severe skeletal overbites.
The Treatment Process
The journey to correct an overbite typically begins with an initial consultation with an orthodontist. During this visit, the orthodontist conducts a thorough examination, which often includes taking X-rays, digital scans, and impressions of the teeth to diagnose the specific type and severity of the overbite. Based on this assessment, a personalized treatment plan is developed, outlining the recommended methods and expected duration.
Once active treatment begins, whether with braces or clear aligners, regular appointments are scheduled. For braces, these visits involve adjustments to wires and elastics to continue moving teeth incrementally. Clear aligner users receive new sets of aligners periodically and have check-ups to monitor progress. The active treatment phase can vary significantly in duration, generally ranging from 12 to 24 months, depending on the overbite’s complexity and the chosen method.
Following the active treatment, a crucial retention phase begins. During this period, patients wear retainers, which are custom-made appliances designed to hold the teeth in their newly corrected positions. Retainers prevent the teeth from shifting back towards their original alignment, a phenomenon known as relapse. The retention phase typically lasts for a minimum of 6 to 24 months, with many orthodontists recommending long-term or even indefinite retainer wear, especially at night, to maintain the results achieved.