An overbite is a malocclusion problem and it occurs when the teeth in the upper row overlap the teeth in the lower one more than the normal level. It is important to note that a very little overbite is normal. Without this little overbite your teeth cannot function properly as those should and you will not be able to maintain sound oral health. Dentists usually consider an overbite problem when the teeth in the upper row of an individual overlap the teeth in the lower one by 2 to 4 millimetres. Even such a small magnitude of teeth overbite can result in severe pain, erosion of the natural tooth structure and loads of other oral health issues.
Just like the problem of overbite, overjet is also a kind of teeth malocclusion, although the terms sound similar but technically they are widely apart from each other explains a dentist who is associated with the renowned Thousand Smiles Dental Clinic in London for years together. Overjet is the problem that involves horizontal misalignment of the teeth and it is also known as the problem of buck teeth. In this condition the teeth in the upper row diagonally stick out or protrude beyond the front lower teeth.
So, what is an overbite? It is the condition when the teeth in the upper row overlap the teeth in the lower row and this problem is also often referred to as deep bite. Therefore in simpler words it is correct to say that overjet is horizontal misalignment whereas overbite is vertical misalignment of the teeth.
The orthodontic problem of overbite has a typical symptom – the front teeth in the upper row overlap the front teeth in the lower row more than they actually should. A minor overbite may not always be noticeable that easily as a severe overbite does. But even a minor overbite issue may affect a lot of things in an individual including appearance.
An overbite problem often leads to a lot of complications including the following
It is often found that the problem of malocclusion is a genetic factor and one inherits this as a hereditary trait. Usually genetic traits like the shape of your jaw can cause misalignment of your teeth. Apart from that there are other causes too that may cause overbite and this include the nasty habit of nail biting, grinding the teeth while sleeping (in dental terms this is called bruxism), thumb sucking or use of pacifier beyond the age 3 years and thrusting of the tongue forward, etc.
Is an overbite normal? This is a common question for almost every dentist in the UK including those working at the Thousand Smiles Dental Clinic. If you have noticed we have already mentioned it above that a little overlapping of the teeth in the front row with those of the lower row is normal but that overlapping should not be beyond 2 millimetres. If the overlapping measures anywhere between 2 and 4 millimetres, then the individual must undergo necessary treatment as early as possible to avoid complications. This brings us to complications related to this particular problem.
A dentist in London having years of experience in handling surgeries related to overbite says if left ignored and untreated the problem can easily lead to greater complications like pain and stiffness in the jaws, tormenting headache, ache in the ear, problem in chewing, setting in of decay in the tooth as well as gum disease. In addition to the issues mentioned above the problem is also known to cause pain and discomfort in the neck at some stage or the other.
Dentists working in the renowned Thousand Smiles Dental Clinic confirm the problem of overbite can be of various types. Different types of overbite problem that are seen include the following
It is usually your dentist who first notices your problem of overbite. This is often uncovered during a physical diagnosis. To further understand your problem they may even take dental x-rays, digital photographs and scanning of your mouth. In certain cases a dentist also recommends these patients to an orthodontist. An orthodontist is a specialised dentist who deals with cases related to alignment of the teeth and the jaw.
These days, it is easy to treat the cases of overbite although the exact treatment that a patient requires depends on a number of factors like the age and the severity of overbite involved. A dentist at the Thousand Smiles Dental Clinic explains there are different treatments to cure overbite for children and adults.
A dentist who deals with cases of severe overbite explains overbite treatment for children involves use of headgears to correct position of the jaw, palate expanders to widen the roof of the mouth, braces to shift the teeth into correct alignment and others. As far as adults are concerned treatment involves use of braces (either traditional or clear braces), corrective jaw surgery, extraction of tooth to make room inside the mouth and others.
