An overbite can be treated at any age. However, it is easier to treat in younger children because their mouths are still developing. The American Dental Association recommends beginning treatment between the ages of 8 and 14. Early treatment is beneficial because it can prevent or minimize further complications.
It is never too late to fix an overbite. The most prominent danger overbite poses to one's oral health is the degradation of the enamel and teeth structure. As long as you haven't lost your teeth, you can always fix an overbite.
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.
You're never too old for braces
As long as you have teeth and they are healthy, you may benefit from orthodontic treatment.
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.
While minor overbites may not require treatment, severe overbites can cause jaw pain, enamel wear, tooth decay, gum disease, speech interference, and other dental problems. People with significant overbites should get orthodontic treatment as soon as possible to prevent these issues.
When the mouth is closed, there should be a slight overlap of the upper teeth with the bottom teeth of about 20%. Anything greater than 20% is considered an overbite and may need orthodontic treatment. Some overbites will be noticeable, while others may be more subtle.
Although the length of your overbite treatment will vary, it will usually take up to two years to completely correct an overbite.
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.
Unfortunately, overbites not only get worse or more pronounced with age, but they cause a number of symptoms that can get worse with age as well, including headaches, trouble chewing, sinus issues, jaw pain, gum disease, and/or tooth decay.
It needs to be corrected, as it can lead to decay, recurring headaches, or gum infections and disease. An overbite is not a normal bite, and therefore can be dangerous to your oral well-being if you leave it untreated.
People with overbites may develop cavities easier, as the overbite can wear away enamel faster, leaving the teeth prone to cavities. There's a higher risk for gum disease. In some instances, a severe overbite can cause the lower front teeth to touch the upper gum line on the back of the front teeth.
You can live with an overbite, but letting an overbite go untreated can have serious consequences for your teeth, mouth, and overall health. It's best to correct an overbite to achieve a healthy, straight smile, to avoid gum disease, excessive wear and tear on the teeth, or even tooth loss.
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.
Straightening your teeth with braces at 40 can greatly improve your smile, impacting how you present yourself to others and how they interact with you as well. You may have lived your whole life so far with perfectly straight teeth. But the truth is, there's no guarantee they'll remain this way.
Your teeth affect your appearance, not just your smile. Patients with an overbite, or prior history of an overbite, are predisposed to having a double chin (i.e. submental fullness). The lower jaw bone in patients with an overbite will often be relatively too small, and subsequently the chin is weak or recessive.
An overbite can be easily seen in someone's profile images because of this. Having a severe overbite can cause your top lip to protrude, which is an unattractive look and feel. Overbite can also make your lower lip appear bigger, depending on the severity of your overbite.
Invisalign corrects most overbite problems. 100% overbite is when your top teeth cover your bottom teeth completely. Your orthodontist will assess whether you need Invisalign or braces, but Invisalign can fix a 100% overbite problem.
Normal overbite is about 3mm. Overbite is often confused with overjet, which is the horizontal distance between the upper and lower front teeth.
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.
Some patients' jaw discrepancies cannot be corrected with orthodontic treatment alone. In cases where an adult patient's lower jaw didn't grow forward enough, jaw surgery may be necessary to achieve the desired result. Surgery may also be necessary for children if developmental issues exist.
The severity of an overbite is determined by percentage. 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.
Unfortunately, an overbite cannot fix itself over time and treatment is necessary. The good news is there are a variety of treatments that can resolve your overbite and make you feel more confident while allowing you to achieve optimal oral health. Braces can move your teeth and get rid of your overbite.