A research has proved that more than 70% of children suffer from dental disorders. Among these are Overbites and Under bites which are very common. Hence, there are several treatments which are available for correcting overbites and underbites.

What is overbites?

There are mainly two types of overbites, horizontal overbite and vertical overbite. When teeth protrude out in front of the bottom teeth then it is called horizontal overbite. Whereas when the top teeth covers the bottom teeth significantly, it is called vertical overbite. Both the types of overbites are common, and it is caused due to skeletal and dental problems. When teeth are the root cause of the problem then it is called dental problem while if the jaw leads to the overbite, it is called skeletal over bite.

There are several physical issues which erupt with Overbite. Many times, there are also psychological troubles related to self-consciousness. The orthodontist evaluates the seriousness of the overbite and advices the best treatment procedures. The main physical issues caused due to overbite are:

• Many speech related impediments such as lisps.
• Chewing and eating related troubles.
• Pain in jaw due to overused or strained jaw and muscles.
• Scrapping of tooth enamel resulting in cavities and many other gum diseases.
• Risk of front tooth damage as it is very prominent position in the mouth.
• Tissue damage in the bottom teeth.

Treatment options for Overbites

There are a number of treatment options for overbites. They are:

1. Invisalign

 The latest treatment option is Invisalign. This kind of treatment uses transparent aligners to bring the teeth into desired position. These aligners are used for 22 hours per day and require change of set once in every two weeks with a new pair. Treatment with these aligners generally takes nine months to a year to straighten the teeth. It is also seen that many orthodontists recommend Invisalign to treat Overbites. It is a completely customised treatment plan to shift teeth or jawline or both to fix Overbite.

Many times, elastic bands are also used with the Invisalign to treat more serious bite problems. These elastic bands are attached to top and bottom aligners to meet the bite issues. Though elastic bands have been proven very effective, it has been ineffective in extreme bite cases.

2. Other treatments:

For extreme cases the following treatments can be used:

• Braces: This is a two-stage process and very common method for treating overbites. In the first stage the teeth are aligned by connecting to metal wire. In the next stage rubber bands, cold and springs are attached for treating overbites and shift the jawline.
• Surgery: When in rare cases the overbite is skeletal surgery may be required. This is up to the orthodontist to decide. Surgery is done in case of adults as children are treated in their developing years.
• Tooth extraction: In some cases, shifting of tooth requires some space and hence tooth extraction is recommended.