Overbites (also known as protrusive jaw) can be corrected through a variety of procedures, depending on the severity. For many people, a severe overbite can have an impact on their daily lives such as having crowded teeth and speech issues. Not only does it affect the way they eat and speak, but oftentimes it is socially embarrassing as well.
What treatment options are available?
The most common treatment for an overbite is braces or Invisalign to move the teeth into their correct position. Other treatments may include surgery and jaw realignment.
When choosing a treatment option, it’s important to work with your dentist and orthodontist to ensure that you choose one that will give you the best results in terms of appearance and function.
Here are the common treatment methods for correcting severe overbites:
1. Invisalign
For patients with severe overbite, fixed braces may not be the best choice because they can put stress on the teeth. This makes it possible for them to move even further out of position causing more problems in the future.
Invisalign overbite treatment is the ultimate solution to this problem. The aligner trays are made of smooth, comfortable, and virtually invisible plastic which will allow you to eat and drink whatever your heart desires without having to worry about them interfering with treatment.
2. Braces
While fixed braces are not an ideal solution, traditional braces are another treatment option available. They can also help reposition your teeth into their correct alignment and promote proper growth of the jawbones. However, this is likely to take longer than Invisalign or surgery; but it’s a good option if you’re uncomfortable with carrying around anything that people will notice during your treatment.
In most cases, traditional braces take anywhere from 1- year to complete depending on how severe your overbite is, but for severe cases, it may take even longer than that.
3. Surgery
Surgery is another common treatment option for severe overbites which typically takes place in childhood to treat the condition before their adult teeth come through. However, there are some cases where people opt for this treatment as an adult if they failed to receive treatments like braces or Invisalign as a child.
What many people like about surgery is that you won’t need to wear any special appliances afterward; however, you will need to be careful with what you eat because of the surgical wounds and sutures (stitches). The risks associated with surgery include nerve damage, infection, scarring, and after the procedure. Also keep in mind that it can be costly, depending on what is necessary for your treatment.
4. Jaw realignment (orthognathic surgery).
To correct an overbite with orthognathic surgery, the lower jaw will need to be repositioned closer to the upper jaw. This method typically requires two surgeries, one to move the
If you are tired of being self-conscious about your smile or if you find yourself avoiding certain social situations because of the discomfort that overbite has caused over time, then maybe now is the time to consider getting braces for your teeth.
Do you have a severe overbite? If so, then you may be considering corrective treatment. The good news is that there are many options available and the number of different treatments for correcting an overbite has grown in recent years with Invisalign for overbite being the most common. Contact us today for professional orthodentic advice!
