What is an Overbite?
Do you feel that your or your kid’s upper teeth are overlapping the lower teeth? This condition is known as an overbite. It is the result of either an underdeveloped lower jaw or overdeveloped upper jaw. Overbite causes pain and discomfort in biting, chewing, and sometimes in speaking.
So how to fix an overbite? There are various treatments options, including overbite braces, Invisalign, clear braces, etc. This article contains details about these overbite treatments.
Why Overbite Braces?
Overbite braces are proven to push your teeth gradually into the correct position. They work like regular braces only. But their job is to align the top and bottom teeth. It is vital to fix overbite to save the pain and agony caused by it. An overbite can be diagnosed in childhood.
How do Braces Fix Overbite?
First of all, a detailed consultation with an X-ray is done to diagnose your overbite and its severity. Based on that, the dentist or the orthodontist decides if overbite braces is the correct way for your treatment. Overbite braces are installed with the help of brackets that are attached to the teeth using arch wires.
These wires and brackets do the work of gradually pulling the teeth in the desired position. It is a time-tested way of treating overbite.
What are the Different Types of Braces Which Treat Overbite?
- Metal Braces
Traditional metal braces are being used since decades as overbite braces. They are also ideal for fixing overcrowded and crooked teeth. These braces are made of stainless steel brackets and are held together with the help of arch wires. They can be used for both kids and adults.
- Clear Braces
Clear braces work similarly to metal braces. But these are transparent braces, therefore less visible in comparison to the metal braces. Clear braces are preferred by adults and young teens who feel embarrassed by the visibility of metal braces.
- Lingual Braces
The wires and brackets of lingual braces are inserted from the inside of the teeth. Thus they are not prominently visible like the brackets of metal braces. But they are as effective as metal and other types of braces.
- Invisalign
Invisalign is one of the most sorted overbite treatments amongst young teens and adults. It is a set of clear plastic aligners which is not visible to others. Also, you can remove them before eating and brushing and wear them again. In that way, they are super comfortable.
How Long do You Need Braces for an Overbite?
Do you wonder that how long do you have to wear braces for an overbite treatment? The answer can’t be the same for everyone. Overbite braces treatment takes anywhere between 6 months to 2 years, depending on your unique dental health condition and type of braces. Only your orthodontist can tell you correctly about the expected duration of your treatment.
Wrapping Up!
Overbite braces and other treatments for overbite works well when started early. Therefore you should take your kid for regular dental check-ups from the age of 7 itself. However, that does not mean that you can’t get rid of overbite if you are an adult. Advanced orthodontic treatments treat overbite and other malocclusions at any age.
Author Bio:
Creating perfect smiles is what Dr. Satish Pai is committed to. An orthodontist by profession, he believes that a perfect smile is a powerful part of a person’s personality. When he is not working hard on perfecting his patients’ smiles at Putnam Ortho, he is busy writing engaging articles about everything related to healthy and perfect smiles. His other passions include golf, yoga and surfing. Spending time with his family always brings a smile on his face.