Why Ignoring Your Overbite Can Lead to a Slippery Slope

Published by Dr. Charles Gemmi

A Board Certified Orthodontist and a Diplomate of the American Board of Orthodontics, Dr. Charles Gemmi has been a practicing orthodontist with Orthodontics Limited since 2000 and is a member of the teaching staff at Einstein Medical Center. Orthodontics Limited is a Diamond+ Provider of Invisalign in Philadelphia and Hatboro, PA.

It is truly amazing how the human body works. Every part or system in our bodies is interconnected and when one is off line you can feel the effects in more than just the initial trouble spot. Take for instance your teeth.

Many people see the appearance of their smile to just be an aesthetic thing, but how your smile looks can affect not only your oral health but also your facial structure as well as your overall health. While your overbite might seem like it is just a small physical flaw, ignoring your overbite can lead to a slippery slope of health concerns.

What exactly is an overbite?

An overbite is when your upper jaw overlaps your lower jaw. It is common for some patients to have a slight overbite of just one or two millimeters, but others have more serious bite issues. A malocclusion or deep overbite is when the overlap between the upper and lower teeth is more pronounced. Often with malocclusion, the patient has a recessive chin which affects the shape of his or her face. These patients tend to have shorter, rounder faces that make them look older.

Malocclusion is not just about aesthetics though. Patients with a deep overbite usually also suffer headaches, TMJ pain and tend to clench their jaw and grind their teeth a lot.

What causes an overbite?

Genetics can play a big part in whether you have an overbite or not, but certain chronic bad habits can also contribute to the problem. For example, thumb sucking. If your child always has their thumb in their mouth, the thrusting motion of the tongue might be pushing the upper teeth and bone into a more forward position while the thumb itself pushes the lower teeth back.

Your speech can also be affected by an overbite. When you have an overbite, you tend to speak more with your tongue which can affect the clarity of your words and might even give you a lisp when you speak.

Why is early treatment important?

If not treated properly at an early age, the overbite will only deepen over time and as the teeth are worn down by all the clenching and grinding the overbite will just become more pronounced.

If your overbite makes it difficult to properly clean your teeth and gums, then this could also lead to tooth decay, gum disease and even tooth loss when not treated properly. Also because you are even more pain because of the headaches and tooth and jaw pain, your nutrition will also suffer. Who feels like eating when you are in pain?

As you can see, if left unchecked, an overbite can lead to a slippery slope of lots of health problems. By choosing early orthodontic care, you will save yourself from having more complicated oral or facial surgery later in life.

What are my treatment options?

For treatment of TMJ pain and discomfort, splint therapy can be used to reposition the lower jaw into more natural position thereby releasing the extra pressure put on the blood vessels and nerves of the joint. Then orthodontic braces are used to keep the jaw from shifting until it is properly stabilized.
In some cases, the orthodontist will just recommend going straight to braces to realign your teeth and jaw.

Today there are many options to choose from when it comes to braces. Traditional metal braces consist of a combination of brackets and wires to gradually reposition your teeth. The brackets are adhered to your teeth with a special glue. The combination of brackets and wires help with the gradual repositioning of the teeth.

If you would prefer less noticeable braces, there are ceramic, tooth-colored braces and Invisalign braces. Invisalign are basically removable clear plastic aligners that are switched out about every two weeks as the orthodontist slowly moves your teeth into a better alignment. Lingual braces are attached to the backs of your teeth instead of the front so they are less visible. Orthodontists will also attach rubber bands to the braces to guide the teeth movement.

There are pros and cons to each type of treatment. The traditional metal braces are more noticeable in your mouth and come with food and drink restrictions. Also, because they are permanently attached to your teeth until the orthodontist removes them, proper brushing and flossing can be more challenging.

Because Invisalign aligners are clear, they are less noticeable in your mouth and because you take them out to eat and drink there are no dietary restrictions like there are with metal or even ceramic braces. However, you will need to a new set of aligners about every two weeks during treatment so you will need to factor in more frequent trips to the orthodontist.

Lingual braces are also less noticeable because they are on the backs of your teeth not the front, but not every orthodontist offers this type of treatment because it takes more specialized skill. Also, proper brushing and flossing can be harder when food and plaque get stuck in the brackets on the backs of your teeth.

While the less noticeable braces might seem like the best choice, keep in mind that for certain conditions, the traditional metal braces will give you the best results.

Before you make a final decisions, take the time to research and shop around for the best orthodontist. Set up a couple of consultations so you can be evaluated and get a few recommendations. Once you have enough information, weigh all the pros and cons of each type of treatment as well as the cost. Also keep in mind that you will want to choose an orthodontist who is skilled, but one who you are also comfortable with. You want someone who always keeps you best interest at heart.

The treatments are mostly comparative in price, but sometimes Invisalign or the clear braces can cost a little more. Also see how much your insurance will cover and talk to the orthodontists about any payment options they have available.

Regardless of which treatment option you choose, don’t forget the importance of maintaining proper oral hygiene. Throughout the treatment process, you need to continue to brush and floss at least twice a day and still make your regular dental checkups every six months. Any cavities, loss of teeth or infection will delay your treatment.

What to learn more about the importance of treating your overbite? Contact Orthodontics Limited for more information.

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11 responses to “Why Ignoring Your Overbite Can Lead to a Slippery Slope”

  1. Angelica says:

    I had braces for 3 and a half years and they used rubber bands plus teeth extraction to fix my teeth. I got them off over a year ago and recently I went to the dentist, and they said I had a class 1 overbite. Did it not fix with the braces? Are my teeth reverting back? What does a class 1 overbite mean?

  2. Hana says:

    I have an overbite that is 1 cm. Would that be condidered a severe overbite ?

    • Azeezat says:

      I’m writing from Nigeria. I have overbite and the second two teeth at the sides of the front teeth are on the top of my upper teeth gum which I guess is the reason I have spaces meant the two misplaced teeth empty.Weeks now, the teeth beneath the misplaced ones on my upper gum teeth which are near to the empty spaces start bleeding while I blush and have become swollen.I’m 21 years old.

  3. Jazmine Kuykendoll says:

    I’m wondering what I’m suppose to do when I let someone do my braces from home they have they license it’s just I have a emergency and been looking for a dentist I’m not a patient nowhere I need help I have money can we please talk

  4. Sarah says:

    I have an overbite but in my teeth x-ray the dentist never said I need braces for my overbite……
    My overbite causes my appearance to look worse and I feel really insecure about it, and my overbite causes me to speak less clearly.

  5. Emma Morton says:

    I have a class 2 overbite with a swollen tounge , nerve pain in my front teeth and a strange taste in my mouth. I’m taking amitriptyline for the nerve pain. Is this normal?

  6. Lujain says:

    Hi, I have a mild skeletal overbite and was wondering do elastics help with this situation or only a surgical procedure because it is minimal so going into surgery is a rough process I’m not quite sure.

  7. Lydia says:

    My daughter had an underbite and had braces put on when she was nine to fix this. They pushed her teeth forward in order to jump her bite and she got her braces off today. She now has an overbite and her teeth instead of having a natural curve are completely straight and jutting out. They put a wire on the back of her top 4 teeth so that they wouldn’t move but and said they don’t know what will happen when she starts to grow if the overbite will be fixed or not. I don’t have another appointment to see them until 6 mo from now and they won’t put braces on until 2 years from now. I am worried they made her teeth worse but need another opinion to see if this is normal.

  8. Incel blackpill suiciderfueled says:

    I wore braces for almost 2 years and still have an extreme overbite. I am still in college and haven’t started working yet so, I won’t be able to pay for surgery for atleast, next, few years. Is there nay other cure? A rather inexpensive one?

    Besides, why did the braces not work in the first place? Should I just kill myself? Wish I had an underwater instead of overbite, atleast, it doesn’t look subhuman

  9. Blackpill validated says:

    It’s over for jawcels and manlets. Just get the suicide fuel already

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