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When there is a gap or overlap between the upper and lower front teeth, an overbite is the case. It is quite common to have the top teeth sit way over or in front of the bottom teeth; leading to a dental problem called an overbite. But for years, dentists have conducted extensive research on how to treat this malocclusion. This makes overbite qualify as the second most important reason people opt for braces treatment.
In this post, we will provide answers to questions like:
Do you have this problem and it is giving you concern? Just keep reading because the solution you seek is right around the corner.
An overbite is described as a longitudinal overlap or horizontal gap between the upper and lower front teeth.
When the top teeth are seen projecting at the front of the mouth, it is caused by a horizontal overbite, also known as an overjet. If the projection is very visible, the term ‘buck teeth' is used;however, we won't be using such a description. It is also possible to have an overjet alongside an open bite. This implies that a vertical gap exists between the top and bottom teeth.
A normal overbite happens when the vertical overlap is 2 to 4mm, or about 30% of the bottom teeth is covered. When there is a deep overbite, also called a deep bite, the teeth overlap by 4 to 6mm or above. But when you have a very serious overbite, the upper jaw may cover the lower teeth entirely and even penetrate the lower gum.
There is a vertical and horizontal overbite. This means the upper teeth extend at the front and sits over the bottom front teeth lower than normal.
A number of several factors may be responsible for this dental malocclusion, some of which are:
When it comes to an overbite, there are two types:
When the jaw bone develops abnormally, skeletal overbite sets in. While a dental overbite happens when there are difficulties with the development of baby or adult teeth, such as overcrowding, or when teeth are exposed to pressure, for instance from sucking the thumb.
You have an overbite when the upper jaw protrudes over or sits over the bottom teeth. An underbite happens when the bottom teeth extend over or sit in front of the top teeth. For more on underbite, see our dentist.
Firstly what a great dentist, all the staff were friendly and very helpful as this was my first time here.
I had called for an emergency appointment due to a sudden cracked tooth and Dr Wahab Shakir despite the end of day fast approaching (30 minutes till close) he said he would see me.
The treatment was not straight forward due to the crack but Dr Shakir after a lengthy time managed to save the tooth/restore it and prevent what I believe most dentists would have done which install a crown - Thank you!
Highly recommend this dentist and service and I am grateful for not only seeing me within an hour but also staying passed closing time and finally for doing a Stella job.
This is a top notch dentist who makes you feel at ease which for someone liked me is important. The staff are very professional, polite, courteous and friendly. Marios, my dentist is extremely patient and cares about your dental care and the service you receive. Just received my new dentures and they have been done to a very high standard and am very pleased. I have nothing but praise for the staff and the treatment/service I received.
Are you experiencing a deep bite or overjet and need to be treated? There is a system for classifying orthodontic issues in children as prepared by the British Orthodontic Society. It is known as the IOTN. See the table below to know the different grades of conditions and what treatment may be needed if necessary.
|
Types of overbite |
Size |
Cause |
Braces needed? |
Surgery needed? |
|
Normal |
2 to 4mm |
Typically dental-related |
Not likely |
Highly unlikely |
|
Deep |
4 to 8mm |
Can be dental or skeletal |
Very likely |
Not likely |
|
Severe |
9mm and above |
Can be dental or skeletal |
Yes |
Likely |
The reason why you should treat an overbite is not singular; several reasons abound. If left untreated, an overbite can lead to:
So, are you thinking of treating your child of that overbite, yet you are contemplating on if it would be worth the risk? Do remember that early correction of overbite is far better than treating it in adulthood. Why? As an adult, your jawbones and tooth are strong and fully developed; making it quite hard to reposition.
Considering the entire work involved in getting braces, undergoing surgery, and wearing retainers for a long time, you may feel overwhelmed, however, the benefits of treating crooked teeth will be far greater than the discomfort you'll feel during treatment. Besides, it's only for a short time.
From the beginning, we mentioned that there is a normal overbite, which is about 2 to 4mm. Which means, if your top teeth are overlapping a little, you need not worry at all.
Your dentist may recommend several ways to fix your bite problem. The kind of treatment you get depends on the severity of your case and the cause.
A lot of patients with overbite get treated with braces in the UK. Getting a braces treatment is very effective and, when accompanied by a retainer, the outcome should be a long-term one. How long can this treatment take you may wonder? Well, this approach can span between 1 and 4 years or sometimes more.
Should you opt for private orthodontic treatment, you may be given the option of choosing clear braces, which when compared to traditional braces are less conspicuous.
Prior to receiving braces for an overbite, request that your dentist or orthodontist show you pictures of what overbites looked like before and after braces. This is important as getting to know how much difference braces can make to correct an overbite will give you the right motivation to get through the temporary pain.
Mild to moderate cases of overjet can be effectively fixed with Invisalign's invisible clear aligners. The trays are barely noticeable, but they exert a little and gentle force to move teeth gradually to the right position, changing a deep bite to a normal one. Every 2 weeks, a new set of aligners are given to patients.
Metal braces are good, but orthodontic work like Invisalign proves to be faster in fixing overbite, plus the perk of doing so inconspicuously, which is one of Invisalign's selling points. It is true that aligner braces are not offered on the NHS, yet parents are undeterred to pay the extra fee for their children not to be taunted at school because of metal braces. Adults who need to maintain a professional look and go about their normal lives without disturbance have the advantage of taking out their aligners for special occasions and straightening their teeth without others noticing.
Highly recommend Museum Dental Suite. Their work is of the highest calibre, professional and friendly.
I'm very thankful they for excellent aftercare advice and for making me relaxed and so well treated.
I've recommended them to both my family and friends.
I have been undertaking a cosmetic treatment (Invisalign) for around eight months here, off the back of a recommendation of a friend who had the same treatment. The professionalism and perfectionism with which my treatment was delivered was outstanding, as was the general service and were all of the staff I encountered.
My dentist Dr. Wahab Shakir was particularly great, with a friendly, reassuring manner and an eye for detail. He always went above and beyond, without ever being asked.
I'm now almost at the end of my treatment and couldn't be more pleased with how treatment has gone. Given the service and end result I'd also consider it excellent value for money.
Keep up the good work Museum Dental Suites!
Consult your dentist to find out if you or your child are qualified for Invisalign treatment for overbite. Don't have a dentist? You can come to us. We will show you the before and after pictures of Invisalign overbite correction. More details on how invisible aligners work will be provided during your initial consultation, and you can talk to our dentists about the treatment plan for your child or yourself.
If an overbite is triggered by a skeletal issue, it would typically demand a surgery on the jaw. This operation is also referred to as orthognathic surgery. A poorly-developed lower jaw or mandible can be shaped up through surgery. Expect your face to have a slightly different look after going through the operation.
Children in the UK who are medically qualified for dental surgery can get overbite surgery on the NHS for free. So, how about adults? Well, grownups experiencing serious malocclusion may qualify for treatment on the NHS according to their price quotation.
During the treatment of overbite with surgery, patients usually go through the procedure where one or more of the following are done:
Don't get scared of having visible scars around your mouth as all the work that needs to be done to treat an overbite is carried out inside your mouth. After getting surgery for an overbite, you may have to sleep over at the hospital for a night, and for 2 to 4 weeks, you don't have to go to school or work. To improve the realignment of your teeth, you may have to take extra orthodontic treatment before and after the surgery.
Sometimes, patients who go for overbite treatment usually feel self-conscious about their looks, particularly if a deep overbite is the case.Should you be experiencing this problem, you may also have headaches, jaw pains, and facial pains since the deep overbite are pushing your jaws backwards and exerting pressure on your nerves and blood circulation. As a result of too much strain on your teeth, they may wear down faster.
After correcting your overbite and getting a normal bite, you may observe that your face has changed since your jaw is now protruding forward, but not to the extreme. Take a look at your before and after overbite photos to spot the difference in appearance. When your surgery or braces for overbite has been done, all the pain and discomfort you may have felt will hopefully disappear.
People who have undergone braces treatment for overbite need to put on a retainer following the fixing so that the teeth don't move out of place anymore.
Correcting an overbite generally involves a simple procedure. With years of experience in this particular dental work, dentists and orthodontists can fix overbite issues. So, you can have any of the following:
Just like we pointed out earlier on, most moderate cases of overbite can be fixed with Invisalign clear braces. The cost of using removable aligners to treat overbite is quite higher than that of traditional braces, however, the entire process may take less time and can be greatly unnoticed by others.
You can see an Invisalign dentist near you to check your eligibility for invisible aligners.
It's sad to say, but this issue cannot be fixed naturally. An overbite brace or surgery is needed. Cases caused by pencil chewing, excessive use of dummies by babies, or thumb sucking can be prevented. However, you will need to consult a dentist should you have a serious overbite and want to treat it.
Overbite braces or surgery on the NHS may be accessible to children below the age of 18. Just like every other treatment, this work can only be approved depending on how severe the case is. An NHS dentist will have to assess the condition.
For adults, their only chance at getting surgery or braces for overbite on the NHS is when the condition is so severe that it causes issues with eating, speaking, and other daily activities. In this case, a dentist will have to examine the degree of your overbite condition prior to recommending you for NHS treatment rates.
You have a normal overbite when your top front teeth overlap the front bottom teeth by about 2 to 4mm. Studies reveal that the average overbite teeth is 2.9mm, and about 8% of children in the UK experience a deep or severe overbite of 6mm.
Usually, an overbite issue of more than 4mm is recommended for treatment in the UK.
Remember that correcting an overbite right on time is best. For more information or treatment of overbites in London, do book an appointment with our dentist at Museum Dental Suites on 0207 183 0886 today.
| Opeing Hours | |
|---|---|
| Monday | 9 AM - 6 PM |
| Tuesday | 9 AM - 6 PM |
| Wednesday | 9 AM - 6 PM |
| Thursday | 8.30 AM - 7 PM |
| Friday | 9 AM - 5 PM |
| Saturday | 10 AM - 2 PM |
| Sunday | Closed |
Highly recommend Museum Dental Suite. Their work is of the highest calibre, professional and friendly.
I'm very thankful they for excellent aftercare advice and for making me relaxed and so well treated.
I've recommended them to both my family and friends.
I have been undertaking a cosmetic treatment (Invisalign) for around eight months here, off the back of a recommendation of a friend who had the same treatment. The professionalism and perfectionism with which my treatment was delivered was outstanding, as was the general service and were all of the staff I encountered.
My dentist Dr. Wahab Shakir was particularly great, with a friendly, reassuring manner and an eye for detail. He always went above and beyond, without ever being asked.
I'm now almost at the end of my treatment and couldn't be more pleased with how treatment has gone. Given the service and end result I'd also consider it excellent value for money.
Keep up the good work Museum Dental Suites!
Firstly what a great dentist, all the staff were friendly and very helpful as this was my first time here.
I had called for an emergency appointment due to a sudden cracked tooth and Dr Wahab Shakir despite the end of day fast approaching (30 minutes till close) he said he would see me.
The treatment was not straight forward due to the crack but Dr Shakir after a lengthy time managed to save the tooth/restore it and prevent what I believe most dentists would have done which install a crown - Thank you!
Highly recommend this dentist and service and I am grateful for not only seeing me within an hour but also staying passed closing time and finally for doing a Stella job.
This is a top notch dentist who makes you feel at ease which for someone liked me is important. The staff are very professional, polite, courteous and friendly. Marios, my dentist is extremely patient and cares about your dental care and the service you receive. Just received my new dentures and they have been done to a very high standard and am very pleased. I have nothing but praise for the staff and the treatment/service I received.
Best dentist ever hands down. Least painful and least scary experiences here (I'm usually really scared of going to the dentist, and even find the initial anaesthetic injection painful) - they really care about the patient, and making sure you're comfortable, results are also fab. Seriously can't imagine a better dentist!
After lots of research I was very happy with the results and the service at Museum Dental. 100% I would recommend to a friend. I couldn't be more pleased.
