It is always your smile that makes the first impression on anyone you meet. A radiant and dazzling smile enhances your personality far more than just a cosmetic makeup or hairstyling. It will boost your confidence and light up your face. However, overbite is one such dental condition that can jeopardize your look and confidence.
Fortunately, this common orthodontic condition is relatively easy to treat. Before discussing the treatment for overbite, let us know what it is and why it occurs.
What Is An Overbite And Types Of Overbites?
Overbite is a condition where the upper front teeth and jaw excessively overlap the lower teeth.
Besides its unsightly aesthetic appearance of the front teeth, overbite can lead to improper dental function and dental health. The lower front teeth may have to bear the brunt of wear and tear as a result of excessive protrusion of upper front teeth.
Due to overlapping of the upper front teeth, the lower teeth may cause damage and cuts on the upper gums and upper palate. With a deep overbite it may be difficult for the patient to clean his teeth. This may result in early plaque formation and decay of teeth. The teeth in lower jaw may overcrowd as a result of overbite.
Overbite can be divided into two types, dental overbite and skeletal overbite. In the former, only front teeth of the upper jaw have protruded outside. This is also known as buck teeth. In the later case the upper jaw itself is placed too forward.
Few decades ago people used to live with an overbite as there was no dental treatment available to correct the deformity. But with advent of modern technology and dentistry procedures such as braces, invisalign orthodontic and surgery, it is possible to correct overbite without much difficulty.
Treatment For Fixing An Overbite
Overbite treatment is generally preferred during early childhood period. The average age for this dental condition preferred by dentist is 10 to 14 years. The jaw in young children is easier to manipulate than in adults. After assessing the extent of overbite, the doctor will decide what is best for the patient. It may be braces, straightening or surgery.
Orthodontic braces: When the overbite is only due to the forward placement of dental teeth, treatment with braces is the best option. Adults as well as children can be treated with braces. It is a popular mode of treatment among people. In this procedure, the orthodontist installs wires and brackets on the upper teeth. Gradually after every few days, he adjusts and tightens the wires. This forces the teeth to align in a desired position after a period of time. The normal time taken for correcting overbite with the help of braces is around 1 to 2 years. Nowadays, besides wires and metal braces, invisalign and ceramic braces are also available.
Surgery: in extreme cases of overbite, surgery may be required. It is usually done when the jaw bone is abnormally placed forward. Normally corrective jaw surgery for overbite is advised after the child has stopped growing. It means the surgery is favored in late teens, or early twenties and afterwards.
Cost Of Overbite Treatment
Overbite treatment cost may depend on many factors, such as the place where it is done. The treating orthodontist’s fees, hospital stay if surgery is performed as so on. Again, there is no fix cost for braces and surgery. It may vary from one place to another.
However, the average cost may range from $5000 to $7000 for braces. For surgery, it may cost $25000 to $30000. Insurance may be covered if the cause is medical and not simply for the cosmetic purpose.
