Fixing an overbite with braces is a common orthodontic procedure used to achieve a balanced bite. Technically known as a Class II Malocclusion, the condition involves an improper relationship between the upper and lower jaws. While braces are effective, the total time needed is highly variable, depending on biological and mechanical factors. An orthodontist must conduct a thorough assessment to determine the specific nature of the problem and establish a personalized treatment timeline.
Understanding Overbites
An overbite is characterized by the excessive vertical overlap of the upper front teeth over the lower front teeth. A healthy bite includes a small overlap, typically two to three millimeters, meaning the upper teeth cover about one-third of the lower incisors when the jaw is closed. When this overlap significantly exceeds the normal range, it is classified as a deep bite.
It is important to distinguish an overbite from an overjet, which refers to a horizontal protrusion where the upper teeth stick out forward over the lower teeth. The severity of an overbite is often measured in percentages of overlap, ranging from mild to severe. Correcting an excessive overbite is necessary not only for aesthetics but also to prevent long-term issues. These issues include uneven tooth wear, jaw pain, and potential damage to the soft tissues of the mouth.
How Braces Correct an Overbite
Braces correct an overbite by applying consistent, gentle forces that gradually reposition the teeth and sometimes modify the jaw relationship. The initial phase focuses on aligning the teeth within each arch using brackets and archwires. Since an overbite often involves a mismatch between the upper and lower jaws, true correction requires more than just moving individual teeth.
Specific appliances are often used with braces to address a skeletal overbite (jaw discrepancy). Orthodontic elastics (rubber bands) are a common tool, connecting the upper and lower brackets to exert continuous pressure. This pressure pulls the upper teeth back and the lower teeth forward. Patient compliance is paramount, as inconsistent wear can compromise the treatment outcome.
Appliances for Jaw Correction
For growing patients, specialized functional appliances like the Herbst appliance may be used. This appliance is cemented onto the teeth and holds the lower jaw in a more forward position, encouraging favorable growth modification of the jawbones. In older teenagers and adults, where growth is complete, fixed appliances such as Forsus springs can be attached to the braces. These mechanical components apply the necessary force to correct the jaw relationship, ensuring the teeth meet properly and the vertical overlap is reduced.
Determining Treatment Length
The duration of overbite correction is highly variable, typically ranging between 18 and 36 months. This timeline is significantly influenced by the severity of the initial malocclusion. Mild overbites requiring only dental correction (moving teeth within the arch) may be completed in a shorter time frame, sometimes under a year.
Cases involving a severe skeletal overbite, where the jawbones are mismatched, demand a longer treatment period for stable change. Patient age is another major determinant. Younger patients, particularly adolescents, benefit from pliable, growing jawbones. This bone plasticity allows appliances to modify jaw growth more effectively, often leading to faster results compared to adults whose skeletal structure is fully mature.
Patient compliance plays a direct role in treatment length, especially with removable tools like elastics. Consistent, full-time wear ensures the steady force necessary for biological movement of the teeth and bones. Intermittent wear can substantially prolong the process, as teeth may shift back between periods of pressure. Other complicating factors, such as crowding or additional bite issues, must be addressed concurrently, which extends the overall time needed in braces.
The Retention Phase
The process of correcting an overbite transitions into a necessary retention phase immediately after braces are removed. This period maintains the newly corrected bite and prevents relapse, where the teeth and jaw try to revert to their original positions. The surrounding bone and ligaments require time to stabilize and adapt to the changes created by the orthodontic forces.
Retainers are custom-made devices used to hold the teeth in their new alignment. They are categorized as either fixed or removable.
Types of Retainers
- Fixed retainers are thin wires bonded permanently to the back of the front teeth, offering continuous support.
- Removable options include clear plastic trays or Hawley retainers.
Removable retainers are worn full-time initially and then gradually transitioned to a night-time schedule as directed by the orthodontist. The duration of retainer wear is often long-term, sometimes indefinitely, to ensure the bite remains stable and the successful results are preserved.