The Great Oral Health Checklist
An overbite is a dental condition when there is overlapping of maxillary central incisors over the mandibular central incisors. If an overbite is deep, then the chin of the patient is generally pushed back by the upper teeth towards the jaw joint. In the case of an excessive overbite, the lower teeth tend to touch the gum area behind the upper front teeth which can lead to gum recession in that area. If you are facing the problem of an overbite, then here are a few ways you can fix your overbite.
Braces
Braces are most popularly used to treat overbites. The procedure is done in two stages. The first stage includes attaching metal brackets to the teeth with a strong adhesive. These metal brackets are connected with metal wires to straighten and align the teeth.
Your orthodontist will lay emphasis on fixing your overbite once your teeth are straight. In the second stage, rubber bands and coils are used to shift the jawline in place. This treatment can range from six months to two years depending on the extent of your overbite.
Invisalign
This is a treatment which uses transparent retainer-like aligners to shift the teeth back to their original place. These aligners are to be worn for 22 hours every day and need to be changed every two weeks for a new pair which will continue to do the same function. In extreme cases, Invisalign takes nine months to a year to fix your overbite. Invisalign retainers need to be taken out while eating or drinking any liquid other than water.
Orthognathic Surgery
Orthognathic surgery is performed by an oral and maxillofacial surgeon for correcting a wide range of minor and major skeletal and dental irregularities including misalignment of jaws and teeth. This surgery can help in improving breathing, speaking, and chewing. In some cases, the patient’s jawbone cannot be corrected with orthodontic treatment. Therefore, surgery for your jaw should be considered when a patient’s jawbone has not grown forward enough. A surgery may also be necessary for children if they have a developmental issue.
Extraction
Extraction of teeth is required in certain cases and should be considered for correcting an overjet. This is common in most adults. Extraction of teeth is required when all teeth cannot be accommodated in the upper jaw because it is not large enough or underdeveloped or there are missing teeth that lead to lower jaw having a shorter arch.
Overbites vary from person-to-person and so does its treatment. It is recommended you visit a dentist to decide which treatment is required to fix your overbite. If you have the problem of an overbite, then consult a dentist and fix your overbite as soon as possible.
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