How to Fix an Overbite – Causes, Types & Correction

What is an Overbite?

What Causes an Overbite?

• Heredity or genetics
• In toddlers and infants, habits such as thumb-sucking, overuse of a bottle, and consistent use of pacifiers
• In teens and adults, biting nails, chewing on pens and pencils, etc.
• Grinding teeth
• Not getting the smile repaired in a timely manner after losing one or more teeth
• Maxillary protrusion due to tongue-thrusting habits
• Temporomandibular joint dysfunction

Symptoms of an Overbite

An overbite is more than just an aesthetic concern. While a slight overlap of the upper teeth over the lower teeth is normal, a pronounced overbite can cause noticeable symptoms:

Visible Overlap of Teeth – The upper front teeth cover a large portion of the lower teeth when your mouth is closed.

Jaw Discomfort or Pain – Misalignment of teeth can strain the jaw muscles, causing pain, tension, or even temporomandibular joint (TMJ) issues.

Difficulty Biting or Chewing – Food may not bite properly, leading to uneven wear on teeth or discomfort while eating.

Speech Issues – Overbites can affect how certain sounds are pronounced, sometimes causing lisps or difficulty speaking clearly.

Worn or Damaged Teeth – The upper and lower teeth may rub against each other unnaturally, leading to enamel wear, chipping, or increased cavities.

Gum Problems – Severe overbites can irritate gums, leading to inflammation or gum recession in certain areas.

Changes in Facial Appearance – In some cases, an overbite may make the upper lip appear more prominent or the lower jaw less defined.

What are the Types of Overbite?

There are two main categories of overbites – skeletal and dental. Let’s discuss them.

How to Fix an Overbite?

• 

  Dental Braces

  Dental braces can not only fix crooked and misaligned teeth, but they can also fix an overbite. This is done in three steps:

  • Step 1 : Braces are attached to the teeth to straighten and align the teeth. You can also opt for overbite braces if your orthodontist suggests the same.
  • Step 2 : Once the teeth are aligned, elastic bands are fitted on the brackets to slowly shift the jaw in its correct position through constant pressure. Make sure the bands are removed before drinking, eating, and brushing teeth.
  • Step 3 : The final stage involves wearing a retainer to keep the teeth in the correct position. And though the overbite correction period varies from patient to patient, correcting severe overbite cases through braces takes a minimum of 2 years.
• 

  Invisalign

  Invisalign is an alternative for braces ideal for people who are not comfortable with braces changing their appearance. Invisalign treatment for overbite correction uses a series of clear trays that are responsible for gradually molding the patient’s teeth to correct their position. As time goes on, the patient switches to different trays as the orthodontist suggests eventually correcting the overbite completely. Though Invisalign is more expensive than traditional braces, they are preferred for their invisibility and shorter overbite correction time which may be a year depending on how severe the overbite case is.

• 

  Surgery

  Some overbite cases are the result of a misaligned jaw bone and require surgery for smile correction. However, overbite surgery is ideal for adults since children may not require undergoing one. Children’s teeth and bones are still developing which is why it is easier to move them into position using Invisalign or braces.

• 

  Tooth Extraction

  Tooth extraction to fix overbite works well if the problem is due to overcrowded teeth. By removing one or more teeth, the rest of the teeth can move into their normal position. And when the teeth start retaining their normal position, the jaw also aligns normally.

Overbite Correction – Before & After

Why is Overbite Correction Necessary?

People may be easily convinced to overlook the problem of overbite. However, overbite correction is important because:

• Overbite negatively affects your appearance.
• Bad bite often results in teeth misalignment.
• It can lead to jaw pain and tooth wear.
• It increases the risk of teeth breakage in case of a blow to the mouth.
• Overbite also results in speech problems.