Issues with your bite are often why people turn to orthodontic treatment. Orthodontists deal primarily with resolving issues with the structure of the teeth and jawbone, which includes a bite that isn’t quite right. Aside from aesthetic concerns, different bite-related issues can impact the health of your teeth. They can put undue pressure on certain teeth or make it more difficult to clean the teeth properly. They also often cause significant pain, especially when they prevent you from being able to chew properly.
Keep in mind that there is never a smile that is too far gone to be saved, so contact us if you have any concerns regarding your bite. At Bailey Orthodontics, we are passionate about making orthodontic treatment accessible and ensuring that you have the most positive experience possible. We offer multiple financing options to ensure that you can obtain the services that you need. Here are a few common issues related to your bite, as well as potential options for treating them.
Overbite
An overbite occurs when the upper front teeth cover a portion of the lower front teeth. The vast majority of people have a slight overbite. However, when the overbite is too large, it can result in significant issues for your teeth. It can cause teeth to wear out more quickly and can cause substantial pain in the jaw.
The size of the overbite is generally measured in percentages, which will allow your orthodontist to determine whether the overbite is large enough to cause issues with your teeth. Receiving the appropriate treatment and care can help to lessen the size of an overbite, which will both enhance the appearance of the teeth and ensure that they can remain as healthy as possible. An excessively large overbite is often referred to as a “deep bite” because overbites are so common. This helps to differentiate between a regular overbite and an overbite that may cause an issue with the smile.
Underbite
Conversely to an overbite, an underbite occurs when the lower teeth remain out in front of the upper front teeth when the jaw is closed. This is commonly due to the lower jaw being too far forward, which causes this misalignment. An underbite often results in difficulty eating properly, which can lead to further issues with nutrition and maintaining a healthy diet. It can also impact an individual’s speech, which can make it more difficult to speak clearly and be understood. Underbites can put unevenly distributed pressure on the teeth, which can cause them to wear down quickly, as well. This condition is less common than overbites, but still occurs frequently. The appropriate treatment for an underbite will depend primarily on the severity of the situation.
Crossbite
In a healthy bite, the upper front teeth generally sit outside of your lower front teeth. A crossbite occurs when some of the upper teeth are located behind the lower teeth when the jaw is closed. In these situations, it is often that the teeth are misaligned within the mouth, which causes some teeth to be outside, while others tilt inward. A crossbite tends to put significant amounts of pressure on the teeth, which leads to excessive wear, as well as makes the teeth vulnerable to chipping. This can also cause the gums to recede or sustain other issues. These issues with the gums can result in severe pain and even deterioration of the bone.
Open Bite
In an open bite, the upper and lower front teeth don’t touch when the jaw is closed. This is often attributed to using a pacifier for too long or frequently sucking the thumb as a child. These actions cause the teeth to grow in at angles surrounding the implement, whether pacifier or thumb, which creates an open bite. An open bite can cause substantial aesthetic concern and self-esteem issues, as they are rather apparent. One of the largest problems caused by an open bite is difficulty chewing. This can make it incredibly difficult to bite into certain types of foods, like apples. An open bite is commonly due to the teeth growing in at an angle, though some jaw conditions may result in an open bite, as well. Obtaining the appropriate orthodontic care can ensure that the teeth are able to fit together properly, which can alleviate many related problems.
Treatment Options
There are multiple treatment options to ensure that a successful method is attainable to fix your misaligned bite. For overbites, treatments like braces or Invisalign are often able to resolve the issue, ensuring that the overbite is at a healthy size. Underbites can be treated by the same techniques. In severe cases, these techniques may be used in conjunction with surgical orthodontics to effectively resolve the existing issue. For issues that are related to the jawbone being misaligned, methods to straighten it can be implemented. In some cases, this is as simple as using elastics with braces to move the jaw into place. Other situations may require alternative appliances. Crossbites are often caused by misaligned teeth, so traditional teeth straightening methods may aid in resolving these issues. Whatever the prevalent issue is in the smile, orthodontic treatment can be customized to effectively resolve your concerns.
Contact Us Today!
Issues with your smile can lead to a wide array of problems. They can cause individuals to feel self-conscious, which can result in them smiling less often. This can also make it more difficult for them to communicate with others and can affect their quality of life. Structural issues with the teeth can make it difficult to eat nutritious foods, which can cause further damage to both their health and the general health of the individual. These issues may also make the teeth more difficult to keep clean, which can simply exacerbate potential problems. Here at Bailey Orthodontics, we strive to provide compassionate, effective orthodontic treatment to eliminate these problems in the mouth. To learn more about the treatment options we provide or to schedule an appointment with us, contact our experts today.