If your upper front teeth protrude heavily beyond your lower front teeth, you might have an overbite. It is a condition that begins either at birth or develops in childhood due to unhealthy habits. It is estimated that globally almost 70% of children show some signs of this. Unfortunately, if you do not seek timely treatment, it can persevere into adulthood. The most recommended treatment by an orthodontist in Dubai is virtually invisible aligners, and we will examine how it can help with an overbite in this blog.
What is an overbite?
It is a kind of malocclusion which is the name coined for crooked or misaligned teeth. An overbite, also commonly known as buck teeth, occurs when the upper front teeth extend beyond the lower front teeth. Typically, nearly all people stick out a bit so that the molars can be aligned. However, if you suffer from the condition, the protrusion can be extreme, causing severe symptoms.
What are the causes?
While there is a genetic possibility for the condition to occur, and sometimes jaw shape can lead to an overbite, in most cases, the reason why it develops is that children are allowed to suck their thumbs and use pacifiers beyond the recommended time. In addition, excessive nail-biting, teeth grinding, and tongue thrusting can also cause this condition.
What are the issues it can cause?
A minor overbite does not cause significant health concerns, mostly just aesthetic issues. However, an uncorrected significantly worsened condition could lead to severe symptoms such as:
Pain while chewing
Tooth decay
Breathing difficulties
Jaw pain
Speech problems
Gum disease
How do Invisalign treatments help?
Aligners work by applying consistent pressure on the teeth, moving them to their optimal locations. Dentists will recommend you wear the aligner at least 22 hours a day to make it significantly effective. Therefore, you should ideally be wearing it even while sleeping and should only remove it when eating food or taking care of your dental hygiene. If you suffer from mild to moderate overbite, this alone will be more than enough to correct the overbite.
Not all overbites look the same; therefore, treatments need to be customizable for individual needs. For example, clear aligners are custom designed by the clinic; thus, you can get the perfect fit for your teeth. Advancements in technology even allow dentists to personalize it to suit even small nuances and curves.
However, it has to be mentioned that the extent to how well the treatment can help an overbite depends on the dentist’s skill and experience. While some tooth and bite issues are easily fixed, for example, minor crowding and spacing issues, more severe problems require better expertise. As long as the orthodontist is well trained, invisible aligners will work well. In some cases, the doctors may use a combination of procedures, including veneers and jaw alignment surgery, to achieve the best results.
If you are considering virtually invisible aligners to correct your overbite, make sure first to consult our dentist at Invisalign Center in Dubai. They will provide detailed information about the process and recommend the most appropriate treatment plan for your condition.