To correct overbite teeth problems, you might wonder if braces are really going to do the trick. After all, there’s a very common misconception that braces are only there to give you a straighter, prettier smile with very little medical necessity.
Orthodontic treatment is about far more than cosmetic fixes.
Getting braces might be important for your or your child’s health, including cases of jaw misalignment that cause an overbite.
Since an overbite might cause problems like tooth damage, pain and wear in jaw joints, sleep apnea, and even gum disease, it’s important to treat the problem and correct the alignment of teeth and jaws.
Are Braces The Solution to an Overbite?
Every person is unique, and so is every mouth.
In many cases, an overbite is closely related to misaligned teeth. Straightening those crooked teeth helps realign the poor bite to help correct jaw misalignment. If further jaw alignment is needed, this can often be accomplished with elastic bands.
Sometimes, overbites are caused by problems in the formation of the jaw bones, and these kinds of malocclusions and alignment issues may need further treatment. Tooth extraction or surgery might be necessary, but usually, such invasive procedures aren’t required.
Even if an overbite is severe, it’s highly probable that braces are going to be an important part of treatment.
Orthodontists treat more than just your teeth – they look at your whole bite and treat a variety of problems that might cause malocclusions.
Can You Prevent Overbites?
Overbites are often hereditary, so if you have or used to have an overbite, it’s likely that your children will have similar alignment issues. Many people with overbites have a genetic predisposition for either an underdeveloped bottom jaw or an overdeveloped top jaw.
In some cases, though, overbites form due to external circumstances while the jaw is still growing and forming.
Early childhood habits such as thumb-sucking, prolonged bottle feeding, pacifiers used too long, and tongue-thrusting can cause or exaggerate jaw development issues that cause overbites.
A little later in life, bad habits such as biting fingernails, chewing on pen caps, or other similar chewing habits might also cause or contribute to an overbite.
Whether your children are predisposed to develop an overbite or not, discourage bad oral habits and promote good hygiene to minimize the potential for development issues. With hereditary malocclusions in your history, it’s likely that your children will still need braces, but the problem will not be as severe with good care.