You may have heard of an overbite because it is one of the most frequent dental issues, both for children and adults as well. Over 20% of Americans have an overbite. Overbites happen when your front teeth come down too far over your bottom teeth. If you are concerned that you may have an overbite, here is some additional information about overbites and how to correct them.
Should I Worry About My Overbite?
Dentists can measure how severe your overbite is. If your top teeth come down slightly over your lower teeth- between 10% and 20% is considered average. When you only have a slight overbite, it won’t need to be treated. However, if your top teeth come down more than 20% over your lower teeth, you may need to have it corrected.
What if you choose not to have your bite corrected? People who don’t have their overbites corrected can have several problems with their teeth or jaws. For example, a severe overbite may make it difficult for you to clean and floss your teeth. You may also experience jaw pain, especially in your jaw joint, which is also called the temporomandibular joint. You can have inflammation in your jaw joint that makes it difficult to eat as well as open and close your mouth.
Correcting Your Overbite
If you need to get your overbite corrected, there are several things that can be done. Your overbite may be corrected with clear aligners. Clear aligners are made of medical-grade plastic, and you can wear them without anyone knowing your bite is being corrected. If your overbite is severe, you may need braces for a while to correct your overbite. The only way you are going to know what type of bite correction you need is for you to check with a dentist. The dentist will be able to suggest the perfect treatment for your overbite.