Valentin Bosioc
What we commonly call an overbite is, in fact, a condition included in the malocclusion spectrum of dental defects. You may have heard about this dental problem in terms of “buckteeth.” An overbite, put simply, is a dental issue characterized by the fact that the upper front teeth overlap the lower front teeth. Most of the times people do not treat it, as the overlapping is not significant.
What dentists do treat is deep overbite – a severity level of malocclusion where the space of the lower teeth covered by the upper front teeth is more than 4 millimeters. Today, we will discuss the main types of overbite and how they can be treated.
1. Skeletal Overbites
As its name suggests, a skeletal overbite has less to do with teeth and more to do with the incorrect development of the jaw. In this condition, the upper jaw (maxilla) noticeably protrudes outward, overlapping the lower jaw.
Since the problem is skeletal in nature, the treatment is complex, taking multiple interventions spread over a long period. The treatment depends on the patient’s age and teeth development. While the major intervention paths include bone growth modification, dental compensation, and surgical-orthodontic therapy, newer research shows that nonsurgical correction of skeletal deep overbite is also possible.
The most common approach to skeletal overbite – when a nonsurgical method is in place – consists of dental retainers, jaw expanders, and other orthodontic devices. If the skeletal overbite is severe, the treatment will most likely involve surgical procedures as well.
2. Dental Overbites
The most common type of overbite is the dental overbite. Just like the skeletal one, the dental overbite ranges from normal (an overlap of 1-2 mm) to deep (4 mm). The severe cases of overbite can lead in time to different health and lifestyle problems, including mastication difficulties and abnormalities, jaw pain, teeth grinding and clenching, tooth decay, higher risk of gum disease, speech impairments, headaches, and many aesthetic issues with psychological impact upon the patient.
In order to fix your overbite in the right manner, you have to learn more about the dental overbite subtypes and the approaches available for fixing them.
2.1. Vertical Overbites
If you receive the diagnosis of vertical overbite, you should know your doctor refers to the fact that your upper jawline (teeth) overlaps the lower jawline (lower teeth) in a vertical direction. In vertical overbites, the upper teeth can completely cover the lower teeth, or can cover them only partially.
This diagnosis can come with a bit of concern, as the overbite can have both skeletal and dental causes. You will need extended x-rays and a thorough check up from your dentist, because the treatment may involve a mix of orthodontics and oral surgery.
2.2. Horizontal Overbite
The second subtype of dental overbite is the horizontal one. In comparison to vertical overbite, the horizontal one means that the upper teeth stick out over the lower teeth in a very visible, significant manner. You will find this condition called an overjet as well.
Just like the vertical overbite, the horizontal one poses plenty of threats: teeth grinding, gum problems, tooth decay, jaw pain, changes in the facial appearance of the patient, speech defects, periodontal problems, and even respiratory problems in some cases.
No matter the type of overbite one deals with, the presence of this dental problem in its severe form leads to self-image issues, low self-esteem, social anxiety, and feelings of inferiority or inadequacy.
The Treatment of Overbites
The sooner one identifies the problem and acts appropriately the more successful will be the intervention and results. Overbite correction in small children and teenagers have high chances of success with the use of modern braces. Let us see the main methods of approaching an overbite:
· Braces with complex wiring and brackets help with the proper alignment and leveling of the teeth. Braces work the best for children with moderate and even severe overbite. They also proved beneficial for adults as well in moderate overbite cases.
· Invisalign represents a newer, modern method of fixing the alignment of the teeth and align the two dental lines. Invisalign works well for mild and moderate cases of overbite.
· A mix of braces and oral surgery (tooth extraction in cases of overcrowded teeth) for adults with more severe cases of overbites.
Conclusion
While skeletal overbite is hard to prevent, dental overbites – when they are not hereditary in nature – can be avoided. Since developmental overbites link back to children’s habits, parents should learn more about these habits and try to prevent them. We are talking about thumb sucking, nail biting, and overuse of pacifiers. In some cases, even if prevention is the best cure, congenital overbites need expert attention and early intervention.
