Your guide to an overbite malocclusion or buck teeth
Many individuals choose not to address their overbite and just live with it. Freddie Mercury, the late rock legend, chose to preserve and accept his significant overbite. Others see addressing this problem as just improving occlusion (dentistry) to enhance their physical look. Others, on the other hand, may need treatment in order to prevent consequences such as jaw disorders and tooth and gum damage.
What is an Overbite? | What Causes Buck Teeth? | Types of Overbites | What issues does Buck teeth cause? | Fixing Buck Teeth
What is an Overbite?
An overbite, often known as buck teeth, occurs when the upper teeth protrude too far beyond the lower teeth. Most individuals have a little overbite, which isn’t obvious and has no impact on their biting or dental health.
When the disease becomes sufficiently severe, it may lead to irreversible tooth damage and temporomandibular joint dysfunction. Severe buck teeth may also radically change face shape, leading to psychological difficulties and poor self-esteem. Our dentist at Taft Hill Orthodontics can permanently straighten your teeth and eliminate your overbite.
What Causes Buck Teeth?
In many cases, the cause is hereditary and can be passed down through the generations. There are also things outside of the body that can make the teeth move. Know about Bite Alignment.
Thumb Sucking
It is normal for a child to suck their thumb, but if it goes on for more than three or four years and while their permanent teeth are coming in, the pressure caused by sucking the finger can make the permanent teeth come in at an angle that isn’t right.
Pacifier
Sucking on a pacifier can make it happen in the same way that sucking on your thumb makes it happen. According to the Journal of the American Dental Association, using a pacifier increases the risk of having a malocclusion in your teeth.
Tongue-thrusting
When the tongue is very far forward in the mouth, it usually moves the teeth forward. This usually leads to an open bite malocclusion, but it can also make your teeth look a little crooked.
Teeth Grinding
Many people don’t even know that they grind their teeth when they do it. It is very common for people to grind their teeth while they are asleep. Bruxism is often the cause of an overbite, which can later cause a lot of pain in the jaw and the back of the head. Teeth grinding can also cause early wear of the tooth enamel, which then leads to tooth decay.
Missing or Impacted Teeth
When the spacing or crowding of the teeth is too big or small, the front teeth can be out of place and not line up. You can move your teeth over time if you lose a tooth or two. This makes your teeth move in different ways.
As a result, not having enough space for the teeth can also make them not line up properly.
Genetics
A lot of people are born with a small upper or lower jaw because their jaws aren’t straight all the way down or up. Having an overbite is a trait that is passed down from parents, siblings, and even your own parents if you also have one.
Tumors and cysts of the mouth or jaw
Tumors and cysts in the mouth or jaw can change how your teeth are aligned and the shape of your mouth and jaw. This happens when there is a lot of swelling or growth in the soft tissues or bones in the upper part of the mouth. This can cause the jaw to move forward, which can hurt.
Overbite can also happen if you nail biting or chewing on hard things like a pen or pencil.
Types of Overbites
Horizontal: When the top teeth are bigger than the bottom teeth, this is called a horizontal bite.
Vertical: It’s when the top teeth are very close to the bottom teeth, so they almost touch.
This means that it’s possible for a patient to show signs of both vertical and horizontal overbite in the same time. Another way to think of it is that it can be dental or bone. Because buck teeth are caused by teeth, it’s a dental thing to have. When the jaw is the cause of the problem, it is called a skeletal.
What issues does Overbites can cause?
If it goes untreated, you could lose your teeth and have a lot of other problems. These problems could include crossbite pain, gum disease (or periodontal disease), cross bite, diastema, openbites headaches, and pain when you bite down on something. It takes a lot of time and effort to make sure your mouth stays healthy. read more about hidden.
Fixing Buck Teeth/Treatment for Overbite
Most of the time, you’ll have to have orthodontic treatment because medicine alone won’t be able to fix it. In children, it is easier to treat because a child’s jaw is still in the process of growing. Adults, on the other hand, will have a hard time if you haven’t had any treatment by now. If it happens again, it will be more serious.
In either case, the doctor will look at the area and give advice on how to fix it. These treatments can last for two years or even longer, but they may not.
Here are dentistry treatments your orthodontist (one of the many medical specialties) may recommend:
Children:
- Dental Braces
- Retainer (orthodontics)
- The baby teeth are removed to create place for the permanent ones to develop.
- To better place the jaw, a growth modification device is used.
Adults:
- Braces are the most effective way to treat this problem.
- Extraction of teeth – your orthodontist may attempt to avoid this treatment and will only recommend it if the situation is too serious.
- Surgery – for skeletal-type problems, surgery is recommended.
Taft Hill Orthodontics can help treat your overbite and get you the smile you always wanted.
When there are solutions available, don’t put up with an overbite. Make an appointment now to discover what it will take to have you smiling brightly and in good dental health.