How are overbites fixed? - Dental Health Message Board

JSM01 · 10-24-2006, 07:10 AM

What sort of treatment are given to patients with overbites? Bracelets? Splints?
Are dental crowns used sometimes? Is surgery required?

Thelma-Louise · 10-24-2006, 05:25 PM

Although I am not an expert - I believe braces or orthodontia is the traditional and conservative method to correct an overbite whether that be the standard railroad track metal braces, the plastic ones or the newer invisiline which are removable and look a lot like splints. A lot depends on the depth of the overbite, the position of the lower jaw and the location of your tm joints. I have never heard of crowns correcting an overbite and surgery to move the lower jaw forward is extreme - I would only do it if the overbite was that extreme and causing other problems or could not be corrected with some form of orthodontia or FJO.

JSM01 · 10-29-2006, 09:02 PM

When I close my mouth the lower front teeth is 3-4milimetres behind the upper front teeth. Would that be considered extreme or mild?

I'm going to the dentist on tuesday to have it checked out and corrected. What kind of treatment should I expect?

Thelma-Louise · 10-30-2006, 11:54 AM

I'm not sure of the exact measurements of an mild or extreme overbite. Are you going to an orthodontist or your regular dentist? Before anything is done the dentist should take a panagram or head xray to see the location of your jaw, tm joints and base of the neck. This will tell them how far your teeth can be moved without comprimising your skeletal structure and will help them determine the best method as well. Sometimes teeth need to be removed and the other teeth repostioned to close the spaces. Sometimes the lower jaw needs to be pushed forward. Correcting an overbite is not an overnight accomplishment. Good luck - let me know how the appt goes.

kehorner · 10-31-2006, 06:39 AM

This is funny. I just logged on to ask the same question, and here it is. I've had an overbite all my life. I should have gotten it fixed when I was young, but my dentist was a bit negligent and at first said it didn't need to be fixed, then said that it should be fixed but it wouldn't be worth it because playing a musical instrument would just negate any treatment and it wouldn't work. Of course, he never actually referred me to an orthodontist to get an opinion on whether it would work or not. Besides, isn't that what retainers are for? Anyway, I'm more than a little annoyed that I could have had it fixed years ago (when my insurance would pay!), but now that I'm older orthodontics are no longer covered.

Anyway, my overbite is the result of a childhood finger-sucking habit (apparently my thumb wasn't good enough, so I used two fingers instead!). I'm hoping that it is just a simple matter of the slant of my front teeth, but I am worried that it may have affected my bone growth. When I close my mouth, my back teeth all line up with each other, but my front upper teeth come out about 5-6 mm forward of my lowers.

I have been thinking about getting it fixed for a few years, but the price was a concern. The price is still a concern, but I was recently in a wedding and when I looked at the pictures I really saw how bad my teeth look. I have these really weird facial expressions from the side, and even from the front because my teeth are sticking out and my lips are stretching over them.

I've got two appointments scheduled for this week. One Wednesday and one Thursday. I'm hoping for the best. But I was wondering if anybody has any experience with what the "typical" treatment is and costs, so I can judge the worthiness of these orthodontists. I don't want to end up getting all kinds of unnecessary stuff done, or pay too much. But I also want to make sure that I get good results.

Are braces on the lower teeth usually needed for an overbite, or just on the uppers?