Your smile and teeth play a significant role in making or breaking your confidence. A beautiful smile and aligned teeth result in a confident and self-contained personality, whereas people having misaligned teeth or misshapen jawbones feel very conscious when in public.
In addition to other dental problems, overbites are a significant cause of misalignment of teeth and an uncomfortable smile. If you face the same issue, we have the solution for it. Here are all the details for you regarding overbites and if braces can fix them.
Overbites – What Are They and What Causes Them?
An overbite is a condition when your upper teeth are extended outwards compared to your lower teeth. Naturally, your upper front teeth should only be forward 20% more than the lower teeth when your mouth is closed. Any difference beyond that is considered an overbite.
Overbites can be of two kinds, horizontal and vertical. Horizontal overbites make your front teeth protrude from your lower teeth. On the other hand, vertical overbites make your upper teeth overlap your bottom teeth.
Causes of an overbite can be a few, but the most general cause is hereditary. Overbites can be inherited from your genes. For example, kids with parents having an overbite are more likely to develop one than other kids.
In such hereditary background, there is not much that can be done to prevent it. Other causes of kids developing an overbite are prolonged thumb sucking or usage of a pacifier. In adults, an overbite can occur by teeth grinding, nail-biting, and chewing on hard objects, which can all result in jaw misalignment.
How do Braces Fix Overbites?
Many orthodontists consider and recommend braces as the ultimate and best option for overbites, because they quite effectively treat your misaligned jaws. The treatment process starts with getting some X-rays of your teeth and jaw to see how severe the misalignment is.
Then, the second step is to fasten metal brackets to your teeth and then connect wires with them. These wires are adjusted periodically to align your teeth correctly. This straightening of the wires and metal brackets leads to fixing your overbite.
Orthodontists use four different ways in conjunction with your braces:
- Your dentist will use a palatal expander if your upper jaw is overcrowded or very small. This expander will slowly widen the palate over the following week or months.
- The orthodontist will sometimes attach rubber bands to the brackets fixed on your upper and lower teeth to exert additional pressure. However, you can remove them while eating and brushing and wear them again under your orthodontist’s guidance.
- Tooth extractions are also used when overcrowding is a major problem. This tooth extraction helps in making more space in your mouth.
- In severe overbite cases, surgeries are carried out to position your jaw correctly.
Braces are not permanent and can be removed anytime with the help of your orthodontist. However, they should not be removed until the treatment is complete, as removing them midway can only bring more harm to your jawbone and teeth alignment.
A braces treatment varies for many factors, but on average, it can cost anywhere from $4000 to $9000. This may seem significant, but compared to the self-esteem and confidence you will get afterward, it is nothing in actuality.
Bottom Line
Braces are the only central solution for an overbite. Nothing else can align your teeth and jawbone as braces can. They provide a permanent and positive result overall. If you want to get your self-esteem back and the lovely smile on your face, contact our expert orthodontists at Burke + Beckstrom Orthodontics for the best results.
