How are Overbite Problems Treated?

Did you know that about 70% of children all over the world suffer from overbite? Overbite is a bad bite which is commonly known as buck teeth and is a common problem diagnosed by orthodontists.

It is a problem where the teeth fail to lie in a perfect shape. Overbite is differentiated in two different ways: Vertical overbite in which the upper teeth overlap the lower teeth vertically and horizontal overbite in which the top teeth pop out too much.

As much as one would like to know how overbite can be treated it remains important for one to know the causes first. I bet you did not know that we inherit the size and shape of our teeth from our parents. So if one parent had his teeth popping out, be sure one can end up having such teeth. The second cause is when one keeps on sucking his thumb or finger after he has past 2 years; he distorts the shape of the teeth and jaws. Another thing you never knew is that biting nails, chewing edges of pencils and thrusting the tongue also contribute to overbite problems.

It is important for one to treat an overbite because this may cause the front teeth to be permanently damaged. For instance if you have front teeth that are popped out it is easy for you to get injured should you fall down or get hit by another person during any activity such as games. Overbite also damages the gums making them weak. This makes it hard for one to eat certain foods because of the pain endured while biting or chewing the food.

How to treat overbites

The normal period of treating overbites stretches up to two years and is divided in two major phases. In both phases braces that have brackets are put on the front teeth while the back teeth are placed with bands. The first step is to visit a dentist who will determine how best to correct the overbite. The teeth are first aligned and leveled using braces to repair any twists or turning.

Second step involves pushing back the top teeth and molars to their original position. In some cases the front teeth may be pushed in front to enable biting. The instruments used in this process include, coils that are made of nickel titanium, springs, rubber bands and headgear which is not as effective as the three instruments. One can keep on wearing braces for a period of six months, two years or even three years depending on how complicated the overbite is.

It is also advisable to start treating overbite as soon as they appear especially when at young age to prevent further complications. Delayed correction can lead to teeth extraction which is a painful exercise and can lead to many gaps in the mouth.

As it has always been said, prevention is better than cure, keep away from causes that are avoidable like chewing pencils or pens or nail biting. In cases where the overbite is not that complicated one can wear functional appliances for a period of one year resulting to not wearing braces or just wearing them for a short period of time.

If you want to find out more about Overbite and Jaw Problems caused by misaligned teeth make sure to ask the Professional Dentists at cosmeticdentistryguide.co.uk

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