Do you have an overbite that is affecting your appearance, your speech and your ability to properly chew food? At Laster Orthodontics, Dr. Laster, provides affordable treatment options for preteens, teenagers and adults with mild to severe overbites that are caused by misaligned teeth and skeletal problems with the jaw.
Overbite Explained
An overbite occurs when the top teeth significantly overlap the bottom teeth. While most people have a small degree of overbite, usually where the upper teeth protrude over the bottom teeth by 2 to 4mm, severe overbites, where the teeth jut over the bottom teeth by 4 to 6mm or greater, should be corrected.
Horizontal Overbites
A horizontal overbite is diagnosed when the upper teeth protrude too far forward over the bottom teeth. This can occur if the upper teeth are angled forward in the mouth or if the upper jaw is significantly forward of the lower jaw.
Vertical Overbites
Vertical overbites are diagnosed when the upper teeth extend down over the bottom teeth. While some overhang of the top teeth is normal, when the upper teeth hang down significantly over the bottom teeth, it should be treated in order to prevent chips, cracking and excessive wear of the front teeth.
Can Clear Aligners Fix an Overbite?
The good news is that clear aligners can be used to fix dental overbites. These are overbites that are caused by the upper teeth being angled outward or toward the lips. This can occur if the individual was allowed to suck on a pacifier or their thumb for an extended amount of time as a child and tongue thrusting. Children, teenagers and adults can develop overbites if they bite their nails and/or chew on objects, like pens, pencils and erasers. Clear aligners aren’t recommended for overbites caused by skeletal problems with the jaw.
How Aligners Fix an Overbite
Aligners fix overbites by applying constant pressure on the teeth. This pressure moves the teeth into their optimal locations, which help fix mild to moderate overbites and straightens teeth. However, in order to be effective, individuals undergoing overbite correction with Laster Perfect Smile need to wear their aligners at least 22 hours a day. This means that the aligners must be worn while sleeping and should only be removed for eating and brushing and flossing the teeth.
It’s important to note that individuals receive a set of aligning trays. Each tray is worn for about two weeks, and it is designed to move the teeth a certain amount. After two weeks, the individual should switch to the next tray in the series. The entire process can involve as many as 26 trays, which is one tray every two weeks for 12 months.
Why People Choose Laster Perfect Smile to Fix Their Overbites
Teens and adults choose to fix their overbites with Laster Perfect Smile because the clear trays are virtually invisible. Since the trays are removable, the individual can remove them for eating and brushing and flossing their teeth. This means that there are no dietary restrictions during mealtimes and the oral hygiene process doesn’t involve any extra steps. Treatment is also faster than with traditional braces with most people completing their treatment within nine to 12 months.
Other Options for Overbites
In the cases of severe overbites or overbites that have a skeletal component, Laster Perfect Smile may not be the best option. In these cases, our orthodontist may recommend braces, tooth extractions and surgery or a combination of these treatments.
Braces
Braces can be used to fix severe overbites in preteens, teenagers and adults that involve a significant forward protrusion of the top front teeth. Braces are typically recommended when it’s going to take more pressure to move the teeth than Laster Perfect Smile can provide. This is because certain orthodontic appliances can be added to braces, including elastics, headgear and spacers.
Tooth Extractions
Tooth extractions may be needed in order to give the teeth more room to move. This can occur if the individual has a severe overbite with excessive tooth crowding where the jaw is too small to accommodate all the teeth. Before a tooth extraction is recommended, our orthodontist takes x-rays of your teeth and jaw to determine if a tooth extraction is necessary and which tooth or teeth should be removed.
Surgery
Surgery is typically used as a last resort. It is recommended when the upper jaw protrudes far over the lower jaw. This is because no amount of moving the teeth will fix a skeletal irregularity. Surgery is typically recommended for adults. In children, it’s possible to guide the growth of the jaw before a skeletal overbite develops.
Cost-Effective Aligner Options
Many adults and parents of preteens and teenagers may be concerned about the cost of overbite correction with clear aligners.
The good news is that Laster Perfect Smile (LPS) clear aligning trays are less expensive than name brand aligners. This is because all LPS aligners are made in our on-site laboratory instead of overseas. Each LPS treatment for an overbite includes an initial consultation and scan of the positions of your teeth and your jawbones, a custom aligner fitting and custom treatment program. Once you complete treatment, our orthodontist will fit you for a retainer and one will be created for you. All retainers at Laster Orthodontics are free after receiving LPS teeth straightening.
For a free consultation on how the Laster Perfect Smile can help fix your overbite in the Triangle area, give us a call at 919-676-0541.
At Laster Orthodontics, we help families develop healthy, life-changing smiles using customized treatments, cutting-edge technologies, and caring relationships. Our individualized treatment plans help our patients achieve their perfect smile in the quickest, most painless way possible by utilizing a wide range of options from traditional braces to propel accelerated treatment to Dr. Laster’s in-house aligner program, Laster Perfect Smile. With three locations throughout the Triangle Area, we create life-changing smiles every day.