Severe overbites and other dental conditions may be treated more effectively with traditional braces. Invisalign may take less time to correct mild or moderate overbites than braces. They are also less obvious when worn, though some people may require the addition of rubber bands to achieve their treatment goals.
Most people have slight overbites, which do not require treatment. However, for those who have significant overbites wherein the upper dental arch projects too far ahead of the teeth of the lower dental arch, orthodontic treatment is highly recommended.
Because the Invisalign® system makes life easier for their patients, orthodontists often prefer it over metal braces. However, for patients with severely misaligned teeth, braces are the better option. Sometimes, teeth need to be twisted as part of the straightening process.
Traditional braces are the most commonly used treatment for this condition. Minor or moderate overbites may be corrected with an aligner, such as the Invisalign braces. Very severe gaps between the upper and lower teeth that are caused by misalignment of the jaw bones may require surgery, as well as braces.
The average treatment time is 6 to 20 months to correct an overbite with Invisalign. Most timelines are within 9 to 12 months as well.
Aligners can be used to correct minor-to-moderate overbites and overjets. They don't provide consistent enough pressure to correct severe overbites. You also must be committed to wearing the aligners all the time. When the aligners are not in your mouth, there's no force on your teeth and they won't move.
Can Braces Alone Fix an Overbite? Some adults with severe skeletal overbite and jaw problems need more than braces to correct the problem and surgery is required to reposition the jaw. Braces need to be used in combination with other treatments such as surgery or tooth extractions.
It is suggested that a child with an overbite should see their orthodontist before the age of 8 to prevent it from worsening.
Overbites are most commonly treated with traditional braces that use brackets, wires and rubber bands to pull the teeth back into correct alignment. In rare cases, additional orthodontic appliances such as expanders and headgear are needed. In very rare cases, surgery must be performed to correct an overbite.
In children, a dentist or orthodontist can treat an overbite with braces or other corrective devices. Adults who have overbites may need jaw surgery to correct the misalignment.
Invisalign can straighten your teeth quicker than traditional braces. Most patients are finished with treatment in just one to two years while traditional braces can take up to three years to yield significant results.
Patients who have dental implants, bridges or TMJ disorder may not be the best candidates for Invisalign. If your teeth are on the smaller side or they're misshapen or eroded, Invisalign may not be practical.
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.
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.
Individuals with overbite appear to have an undefined chin and jawline. When you look at their profile, you'll often note that the upper lip appears to be protruding from the face. However, braces bring the bite into position and help improve the jawline for patients.
“Yes, your overbite can return even after wearing braces or aligners," Oleg Drut, DDS, an orthodontist and founder of Diamond Braces, tells WebMD Connect to Care.
Factors that can worsen the overbite are mouth breathing, thumb sucking, lingual propulsion, premature loss of a primary tooth, or the presence of an extra tooth.
A big, or deep, overbite — also known as a class 2 malocclusion — is a severe overbite where the top teeth significantly overlap the bottom teeth. You may be able to feel a gap between your front top and bottom teeth or even be able to push your tongue between your teeth when your jaw is clenched.
What happens if I don't treat it? If left untreated, an overbite could cause significant health complications. These include irreparable damage to teeth from abnormal positioning and possible jaw pain including temporomandibular joint disorders (TMJ).
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.
Wrapping Up. The only options to fix overbite without braces would be to undergo orthognathic surgery or to use Invisible Aligners. These treatments will fix upper teeth on the upper jaw plus bottom teeth.
This is completely normal and necessary. In the process of removing dental compensations, you will notice changes in the relationship of the upper and lower teeth. If you have a lower jaw that is smaller than your upper, aligning the teeth may actually create more of an overbite.
“Having an overbite is normal and ideal when the top teeth overlap the bottom teeth by 10-20%,” Kevin Walker, DDS, tells WebMD Connect to Care. According to Walker, there is cause for concern if your bite extends beyond this normal overbite range and does not allow your upper and lower teeth to touch at all.
Correcting an Adult Overbite is Easy
Over time, more options have become available to treat adult overbites. No matter which option you select, it's always important to seek professional orthodontic advice first. There are several alternatives available for overbite correction for adults.