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These Solutions Can Help You in How to Fix an Overbite

By July 15, 2022July 21st, 2022No Comments

An overbite, also known as a malocclusion, happens when the lower set of teeth and upper set of teeth don’t align correctly due to protrusion. In a simpler way, when your upper set of teeth overlaps the lower one, this is a sign that you have an overbite. Want to know more about overbites? 

Let’s take a look!

What Causes an Overbite?

Here are some of the top things that can cause an overbite:

  • Genetics
  • Thumb sucking or overuse of bottle/pacifiers
  • Biting nails
  • Chewing on pens and pencils
  • Grinding teeth
  • Not repairing your smile in a timely manner after losing teeth. 
  • Maxillary protrusion due to tongue-thrusting habits
  • Temporomandibular joint dysfunction

Now, we will take a look at how overbites can be fixed.

Dental Braces

Not only do braces fix misaligned and crooked teeth, but they also work for patients with an overbite. Here’s how they work:

  1. Braces are attached to align the teeth. You can also choose overbite braces if suggested by your orthodontist.
  2. Once the teeth have been aligned, elastic bands are fitted on brackets to shift the jaw. 
  3. The final stage involves wearing a retainer in order to keep the teeth in the right position. This process can take a minimum of two years.

Invisalign

Invisalign is a great alternative for braces as it works for those people who aren’t really comfortable allowing braces to change their appearance. This treatment for overbite correction involves a series of trays that are clear and will gradually mold the patients’ teeth into their perfect position. As time goes by, the patient only needs to switch out their trays as suggested by the orthodontist.

Over time, this will correct the overbite. While Invisalign is a more costly option compared to traditional braces, they are more preferred due to the invisibility and shorter overbite correction time which could be up to a year depending on how severe the overbite is.

Tooth Extraction

Tooth extraction used to fix overbites works really well if the problem is caused by overcrowded teeth. By removing a tooth or two, the rest can move into position. The jaw will also align normally when the teeth retain their normal position.

For more information about fixing an open bite, crossbite, underbite, and more, schedule a consultation with our orthodontics team serving Berkeley, El Cerrito, and the surrounding areas.