Overbite correction as early as possible is generally best. For children, ideally, before they reach 8 or 9. Early treatment is less likely to cause long-term problems, such as difficulty chewing or speaking correctly and also helps prevent developing more serious dental problems later in life with adult teeth.
At the age of 10-14 years, there are often loose baby teeth present. This makes it difficult to support these plates. For this reason, as well as reducing the risks of chipping or knocking of the adult front teeth, overbites treated between ages 8-10 years have better outcomes.
Not only will an overbite get worse with age, but the symptoms you might feel from having an overbite can worsen with age. As you age, and especially without dental and orthodontic intervention, your teeth will continue to shift and move in your mouth.
While overbite correction can be performed on patients of any age, surgery is sometimes more necessary for adults because their jaws are more difficult to shift. Teenagers with overbites can more often be treated with braces or Invisalign without the additional need for surgery.
Overbites won't correct themselves and often worsen over time. You can have an overbite fixed at any age, but having it sorted early can prevent problems such as jaw pain and speech difficulties that often develop with age.
There's really no age limit for braces except in a very broad sense. Children shouldn't get braces placed on their baby teeth, for example; they should wait until they have their adult teeth. But once the adult teeth are in, the only contraindications for braces are health-related, not age-related.
No age is too old to get orthodontic treatment. Whether you're sixteen or sixty years old, you can still get your teeth straightened with braces or clear aligners, in fact, age is just a number when it comes to orthodontic treatment.
There's No Age Limit for Braces (14 and up)
Many believe they are too old for braces and straight teeth, but that's not true. Your teeth don't grow like hair or fingernails. They're always going to be the same size and can be fixed at any time from 14 to 41.
Having an overbite isn't always necessarily a bad thing. But an overbite that's too big or too small can have some adverse side effects. There's a higher risk of tooth decay. People with overbites may develop cavities easier, as the overbite can wear away enamel faster, leaving the teeth prone to cavities.
For instance, 100% overbite means your top teeth completely cover your bottom teeth. Most people have some degree of overbites, yet many do not need professional treatment. For more serious overbites professional attention may be necessary, as overbites can pose a number of problems.
A small overbite is appropriate for a normal bite: this is about 1 to 3 mm. More than 3 mm is considered too large of an overbite and requires orthodontic treatment.
Many people find this unattractive, which can harm your personal and professional life. More significantly, an overbite can cause significant pain. It will pull on your TMJ, tearing the nerves in your jaw and cheeks. It can cause your teeth to grind, upsetting your gums and cutting the inside of your mouth.
Does Fixing An Overbite Change Face Shape? Yes, fixing an overbite can change the shape of your face. Overbites make your face look asymmetric. Furthermore, they can cause discomfort, and they may also affect speech and make wearing dentures difficult.
The average overbite is around 2 – 4mm. This is a normal range and both your upper and lower teeth will be aesthetically appealing. If your overbite is smaller, your lower teeth will be more noticeable. When there is a significantly reduced overbite or none at all, it's referred to as an anterior open bite.
Overbite is considered normal when the vertical overlap covers 30% of the teeth or is 2-4mm — when it is 4-6mm or more, it is known as a deep overbite or deep bite. When the lower teeth are completely covered by the upper and even go into the lower gum, it is known as a severe overbite.
You cannot fix overbite naturally; braces or surgery will be needed to correct an overbite. However, you can prevent some cases of overbite when you cure some childhood habits like thumb sucking, pencil chewing — overuse of dummies for babies.
If an overbite goes untreated, your teeth will gradually be worn down by clenching and grinding caused by the overbite. As your teeth wear away, your misalignment will be more pronounced — further worsening the grinding. This vicious cycle won't fix itself. It has to be fixed with orthodontic treatment.
Do overbites get worse with age? The space between the upper and lower front teeth can increase over time, worsening the overbite. In addition to this, the long-term effects of a deep overbite will cause more problems over time, meaning additional restorative treatment may be required.
From the front, an overbite is noticeable as a misalignment of lips, where the Cupid's bow does not align with the middle of the lower lip. The bodily structure is determined by the shape, size, and alignment of bones, so an overbite can significantly affect your jawline, and by extension, your facial structure.
At what age can you get braces? For children, most get braces between 9 and 14 years old. But adults can benefit from orthodontia as well, and there's no right or wrong age for adults to get braces. As a general rule, once the adult teeth are in, braces are possible.
Metal and Clear Braces
The minimum time to wear braces can be as little as several months to fix a basic crooked tooth or spacing issue through to 36 months for both metal braces and ceramic braces. Ceramic braces use tooth-coloured brackets and arch wires so they are less conspicuous than metal braces.
Every patient is different, and only your orthodontist can tell you for sure how long your child will wear braces. But in most cases, treatment with braces lasts 1-2 years.
In general, one to three years is a normal amount of time for a teenager to wear braces. A retainer will help to keep teeth in the perfect positions once the braces are removed. It is less noticeable than the braces, both visually and in your own mouth.
The good news is that you can get your teeth straightened no matter your age. Braces aren't just for kids. Even adults aged 50 and over can benefit from treatment by an orthodontist.