Overview

What is an overbite?

An overbite, besides called buck tooth, is a misalignment of the dentition. It occurs when your upper front man teeth protrude ( stick out ) beyond your lower front teeth .
Overbite is a type of malocclusion. This term describes any misaligned or crooked teeth .

How does an overbite affect the body?

A minor overbite may not cause any noticeable health issues. however, an uncorrected overbite may lead to :

• Breathing challenges.
• Difficulty or pain while chewing.
• Gum disease.
• Jaw pain or temporomandibular disorders (TMD).
• Tooth decay or cavities.
• Speech problems.

Symptoms and Causes

What causes an overbite?

In some cases, an overbite is familial ( runs in the class ). familial traits, such as your jaw condition, can affect the conjunction of your teeth.

other causes include :

• Excessive nail biting.
• Teeth grinding (bruxism).
• Thumb-sucking, or nonnutritive sucking behavior (NNSB), that occurs past the age of 3.
• Tongue-thrusting, when the tongue presses too far forward into the mouth.
• Using a pacifier, especially past the age of 3.

What are the symptoms of an overbite?

The primary symptom of an overbite is related to your appearance — your lead front teeth overlap past your penetrate front tooth. Overbites can besides cause :

• Difficulty fully opening or closing the mouth.
• Discomfort while eating.
• Jaw pain.
• Speech challenges.

Diagnosis and Tests

How is an overbite diagnosed?

typically, your dentist is the healthcare provider who first notices an overbite during a physical examination. The dentist may take alveolar consonant X-rays to far examine the overbite and how your teeth align .
The dentist may refer you to an orthodontist. An orthodontist is a dentist who specializes in tooth and call on the carpet conjunction .

Management and Treatment

What are treatments for overbite correction?

Overbite correction is different for children and adults. If an overbite is caught during childhood, treatment may involve :

• Growth modification devices, or palate expanders, used during growth spurts to re-position the jaw.
• Braces to slowly move all the teeth into correct alignment.
• Removal of baby teeth or permanent teeth to make room for adult teeth.
• Retainers to keep the teeth in alignment after braces.

In adults, treatment may involve :

• Clear braces to move only the teeth affected by the overbite.
• Surgery to correct jaw alignment.
• Teeth removal to allow the remaining teeth more room.

Prevention

How can I prevent overbite?

sometimes overbites occur due to irrepressible factors, like genetics .
In children, you can help prevent overbites by :

• Avoiding sippy cups with spill-proof valves.
• Discouraging thumb-sucking past infancy.
• Limiting pacifier use starting around age 3.
• Scheduling a dental visit by age 1.

Outlook / Prognosis

What is the outlook for people with an overbite?

If you have an overbite, you can keep your teeth and mouth healthy by :

• Practicing excellent oral hygiene.
• Using a night guard if you tend to tongue thrust or grind your teeth while you sleep.
• Visiting the dentist every six months.
• Wearing a mouthguard during contact sports.

Living With

What else should I ask my doctor?

You may want to ask your healthcare supplier :

• What overbite risk factors do I need to be aware of?
• How long will treatment for my overbite take?
• What precautions should I take so that my overbite does not return?
• How can I keep my overbite from causing other health problems?

A note from Cleveland Clinic
An overbite is exceed movement teeth that protrude beyond your bottom front dentition. In dangerous cases, an overbite can lead to health problems like chew pain, gumwood disease or tooth decay. In children, a dentist or orthodontist can treat an overbite with braces or early corrective devices. Adults who have overbites may need jaw operating room to correct the misalignment. If you have an overbite, you can keep your mouth goodly by practicing excellent oral hygiene and scheduling regular checkups with your dentist .