Overbites are a common condition that can cause a variety of problems. Overbites happen when your upper jaw protrudes too far over your lower jaw. If left uncorrected, not only could your overbite cause jaw pain and potential speaking problems, but it might also affect your appearance. Correcting your overbite isn’t something that has to be limited to treatment during your childhood or teenage years. Here’s how and why you should consider correcting your overbite as an adult to enjoy your smile to the fullest!
How Do Overbites Happen?
First, let’s take a look at how overbites happen and affect your oral health. Your overbite likely isn’t the result of anything you did, although certain childhood behaviors can cause an overbite to happen. More often, these bites are the result of genes passed down from one or both of your parents. Overbites are just one of many different types of misalignments of the teeth called malocclusions. Overbites can be mild or severe, and their effects on your smile will vary depending upon which type you have. A dentist or orthodontist can help you determine just how much your overbite is impacting your smile.
Restoring Your Bite Is Essential to Your Oral Health
Although some people have overbites that don’t affect their smile too much, others have extreme cases where the bite, jaw, and even tooth enamel is affected. Improper alignment of your bite such as that seen in overbites could lead to excessive tooth wear. This means your enamel is more at risk to be damaged and you may experience a higher risk of tooth decay as a result. If you’ve had an overbite for the majority of your life, you may not be aware of just how much your bite is affecting your smile. You could be experiencing the effects of your overbite and not know it. By correcting your smile, you can improve your oral health!
Options for Treatment
Getting an overbite treated is typically done with orthodontics. Braces or Invisalign can help your teeth to come into their correct positions and fix your bite. You’re never too old to correct an overbite, and you can receive orthodontic treatment as long as your smile is otherwise healthy!
After getting an x-ray to better determine the position of your jaw, a treatment plan can be discussed. Your treatment will all depend on your unique overbite—some may not require treatment at all, while others may require extractions or surgery to correct. Fortunately, most overbites can be treated with simple orthodontics. Visit your local dentist or orthodontist to determine how your overbite can be treated.
Even if you have an overbite as an adult, you can still correct it and enjoy a healthy, perfectly aligned smile. Talk with your oral health care provider about your options. If you’re worried about people seeing that you have braces, Invisalign may be an option for you. Overbites are usually corrected with ease, so you can be enjoying your gorgeous smile again in no time!
