Do I have Overbite?

If your top and bottom teeth overlap, you have an overbite. Overbite is common, and isn’t usually considered problematic. The problem arises when the overbite is too large or too small. In order to determine whether you have an overbite, just smile in the mirror with your jaw fully closed, and check whether you can clearly see 50% or more of your lower front teeth: if you can’t see 50% of your teeth, you may have an overbite and should see an orthodontist to figure it out.

Some of the symptoms include:

• Having trouble opening or closing your mouth fully
• Eating and chewing problems
• Jaw lock
• Jaw pops when you open or close your mouth
• Earaches that persist
• A headache

Can a severe overbite be corrected?

There are many health problems that an overbite can cause, such as jaw pain, gum disease, and tooth decay. An overbite in children can be treated through braces or other orthodontic devices or by a dentist or orthodontist. If an adult has an overbite, he or she may need jaw surgery to correct the misalignment.

What causes an overbite? 

An overbite can occur if your teeth are crowded or spaced apart. A missing tooth or a tooth with a gap can affect the position of your front teeth, which can make them stick out over your bottom teeth. A misaligned bite can also be caused by overcrowded teeth.

Is it bad to have an overbite? 

You can live with an overbite but it’s bad for two reasons. The first is social. An overbite is usually an embarrassment to the individual and makes them feel self-conscious. When patients with severe overbite smile, they frequently cover their mouth with their hands. The second is dental. There is a difference between overbite and overjet. Overbite is when the upper front teeth cover the lower front teeth too much, instead of biting on the upper teeth, the lower front teeth bite into the palate

Overjet, also known as buck teeth, is a protrusion of the upper front teeth.

Orthodontics treats both problems by using braces. Rather than getting too technical, let me just say that the braces move the affected teeth into their correct positions over time. The process may take up to two years for severe cases. Only an experienced orthodontist can correct these cases with braces.

Do overbites get worse with age?

There is typically no way to predict whether your bite will worsen (or not) over time because there are multiple factors involved. Treatment of an overbite before it worsens will ensure that it’s less expensive, quicker, and requires a less invasive procedure, reducing the risk of a worsening overbite and the associated risks.

Do I have Overbite?

Perry Stevens

Perry heads up a dynamic marketing team that has help the leading orthodontic practices in the USA 10X their business for over a decade. He’s a tea connoisseur, avid reader, traveling and grower of exotic fruits in his permaculture food forest.