According to the American Dental Association, approximately 70 percent of children have signs of an overbite, which is often genetic. But overbites can also be caused by excessive sucking on a pacifier or thumb and abnormal growth of baby teeth. Can an overbite cause dental health problems? Can invisible aligners such as SureSmile correct an overbite?
What is an Overbite?
Overbite is a misalignment of the jaw and teeth that makes the front teeth protrude. Both children and adults can have an overbite. Overbites can be vertical and horizontal. With a vertical overbite, the top teeth extend over the lower teeth too much. In contrast, a horizontal overbite makes the top teeth stick out in front of your bottom teeth.
Unfortunately, either of these overbites can result in dental problems. It’s in a dental patient’s best interest if they visit a dentist the moment they or their parents suspect that they have an overbite. Recommendations of overbite correction methods depend on the type and severity of the overbite malocclusion.
Dental Problems Caused by an Overbite
If left untreated, an overbite can cause the following dental problems:
- Cavities
- Speech impairments
- Tooth enamel erosion
- Gum disease
- Headaches that can lead to migraines
- Problems with chewing and eating
Correcting an Overbite with SureSmile
Thankfully with newer technologies, metal braces and wires aren’t the only option for fixing an overbite. Discrete treatment options are available with removable and transparent SureSmile aligners. Similar to Invisalign, it’s essential to note that although SureSmile generally helps correct an overbite, it might or might not be the ideal treatment for every patient.
When you seek overbite treatment using SureSmile at JM Dental of Westbury, our team will perform a dental exam to determine whether SureSmile may fix your overbite or not. If one of our providers decides you are a good fit for fixing your overbite with SureSmile and you want to move forward with such treatment, customized trays of aligners will be created for you based on a personal digital dental scan.
Advantages of Overbite Correction with SureSmile
SureSmile offers many benefits over traditional-style braces for dental patients with an overbite. These advantages include the following:
- SureSmile aligners discreetly fix overbite without any visible braces since the aligner trays are made with transparent plastic materials.
- Dental hygiene is easier to maintain with aligners since they are removable—simply remove the aligners, brush, and floss as you usually would and put them back in.
- You can eat and drink whatever you want after removing your SureSmile aligners. Just remember to clean your mouth properly before putting the aligners back in your mouth. You are allowed a 2-hour window every 24 hours to remove your trays.
Find Out How SureSmile Can Fix an Overbite
For many patients, SureSmile is the answer they have been looking for to their overbite dilemma. There’s only one way to find out if you are one of them, and that’s to contact a dental professional who offers and is experienced in SureSmile treatment. Contact JM Dental of Westbury today to learn more about your options for treating an overbite. We can be reached at 516-334-3444 or contact us online. Mention our blog/website and we’ll include whitening at no additional cost!