A deep bite occurs when there is a certain level of misalignment between your upper or lower teeth. You have a deep bite issue when your upper front teeth overlap with the bottom front teeth upon closing your jaw.
Usually, if your upper teeth cover your lower teeth more than 4mm, it is considered a bite misalignment issue that needs to be treated before it gets worse and leads to complications like worn-down teeth, sores on the roof of your mouth, etc.
There are a lot of different treatment options available for bite correction and in this article, we are going to discuss some of these briefly so stay with us till the end.
But before that let’s take a look at what a bite is and what are some of its main causes. This will help you quickly identify this issue and avoid major complications.
It is a type of malocclusion which is a medical term for the misalignment of your upper and lower teeth and your back morals. When your bottom teeth show a few millimetres or less and are covered mostly by your upper teeth, it is considered a bite that needs to be fixed as quickly as possible.
A deep bite is usually accompanied by crookedness or crowding of teeth. If left untreated, it can lead to the occurrence of painful ulcers and sores in your mouth which can make eating and other oral functions very unpleasant.
Following are the main causes of an overbite (deep bite) that you need to know
Bite correction is a process where your dentist or orthodontist realigns your upper and lower teeth so that there is minimum overlapping. Bite correction brings your bite back to its normal state and alleviates many complications related to a misaligned bite.
Bite correction can be done in a number of ways. However, the type of treatment you need depends on your age, underlying cause, and other conditions related to the deep bite.
Following are some of the most common bite correction treatments that you need to know
Tooth removal is done when the sizes of your upper and low jaws are different. The teeth are extracted to compensate for this issue. Both in overbite and underbite patients, teeth removal can eliminate the need for invasive jaw surgery.
In order to correct your bite, your dentist will most likely remove your two upper bicuspids or some teeth in the back of your mouth.
Your bite can also be corrected with the help of dental appliances like braces, retainers, tray aligners, etc.
Braces are installed brackets connected by wires to your teeth that put constant mild pressure on your teeth to shift them into their right positions. Braces come in different materials such as metal, ceramics, etc. You can also go for clear aligners or self-ligating braces for bite correction.
Retainers are made from plastic and some wires which you have to wear for a few hours daily. Unlike braces, you can easily remove and then place the retainers back in your mouth on your own.
A tray aligner consists of a sequence of removable trays that fit over your teeth. Each tray is worn for about 20 hours each day. This is a more advanced alternative to traditional braces that gives much better results with minimum side effects.
So, these are some of the most common dental appliances that can be used to correct bites. These dental appliances can be customized so that they fit the mouth of each patient completely.
This is another effective treatment for bite correction. Your dentists can treat overbite by repairing your back teeth. This is done by adding implants and fixing damaged teeth that have gaps with bonding.
Teeth repair can not only align your bite but also treats its underlying cause which prevents this issue from arising in the future.
Sometimes your bite misalignment is caused by the bones of your jaws. If that is the case, then your dentist will recommend surgery. This treatment is usually done on patients who are no longer growing i.e., older teens and adults.
You may also need to wear dental appliances like braces or retainers for some time before and after the surgery. During bite correction surgery you are required to stay in the hospital for a day.
The surgery is done under general anesthesia and the recovery takes several weeks.
It depends on the severity of the bite. For example, an overbite can take up to two years to completely heal. The treatment timeline varies from patient to patient.
For mild overbites, dentists may recommend invisible braces (Invisalign) and elastics for bite correction. These are the most commonly used ways of changing teeth placement and fixing an overbite without surgery.
If you leave your deep bite untreated, it can lead to a number of health complications. It can cause difficulty in eating and drinking and can lead to various gum diseases.
It can also cause temporomandibular joint disorder, weakening of your tooth structure, and sores and ulcers in your mouth. In order to avoid such issues, you must make sure you follow the treatment plan given to you by your doctor carefully.
Do not discontinue the use of dental appliances until your doctor recommends it. Not following your doctor’s instructions can make the situation worse and you will require invasive and expensive treatment for bite correction if you don’t pay attention.
Overbite, underbite, crossbite, etc., are among the most common health conditions that affect millions of people. It is extremely important that you detect the symptoms early on and start your treatment as soon as possible.
You need to discuss your bite issue with an expert dentist and then choose a treatment that is minimally invasive. Out of all the treatment options available for uneven bites, make sure to find one that addresses your underlying causes and has few side effects as well as a quicker recovery period.
Get in touch with Specialist Dental Services for professional bite correction services in London, UK.
Narinder is a Specialist Periodontist based in private practice. She qualified from St. Bartholomew’s & The Royal London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary, University of London in 2007. During her studies she was awarded the Harold Fink Prize for outstanding academic achievement.
Posted On : June 23, 2023
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