Bite problems occur when the top and bottom teeth do not fit together properly. Not only can bite problems
be unsightly, but they can also cause trouble speaking and chewing. In addition, bite problems can cause
occlusal disease.
Occlusal disease occurs when the excess pressure a bad bite places on certain teeth causes other dental
problems, such as a wearing away of the surfaces of teeth and/or even a slow loosening of teeth until they
fall out.
If your child has a bite problem, then having the problem diagnosed and corrected at a young age when it
is most easily treatable is typically best. Read on to learn about two common bite problems and their
treatment options.
Overbite
Nearly 70 percent of children who suffer from dental disorders have overbites. Overbites can occur due to
genetics or habits, such as thumb sucking.
The two main types of overbites are dental overbites and skeletal overbites. A dental overbite occurs when
the top and bottom jaw align properly, but the front teeth protrude over the bottom teeth too much. A problem
with jaw alignment causes a skeletal overbite.
The treatment needed to correct an overbite depends on the type and severity of the bite problem.
Treatments for overbites include.
Metal Braces
Metal braces in combination with elastic bands can correct some overbites. These elastic bands gradually
pull the top jawbone back to align it with the bottom jawbone.
Clear Teeth Aligners
While clear aligners rarely fixed bite issues in the past, they can now fix some bite issues when you use
the proper aligner attachments with your aligners. Your orthodontist will temporarily adhere these
attachments to your teeth. Then they'll anchor elastic bands to the attachments to gradually pull your top
jawbone back into proper alignment.
Surgery
Some severe overbites in children must be corrected
with jaw surgery. However, adults are more likely to need surgery to correct overbites
because their jawbones have finished developing and are more difficult to correct with orthodontic appliances
alone.
Corrective jaw surgery for an overbite is typically performed by moving the lower jaw forward or the upper
jaw backward after making an incision in the jaw through the mouth. The jaw is then anchored back into place
permanently with screws and plates.
Some overbites are best corrected with more than one treatment, such as a combination of surgery and
braces.
Open Bite
An open bite occurs when there is a gap between the top and bottom front teeth when the jaw is closed. If
your child currently has the appearance of an open bite yet still has some of their primary teeth, then don't
panic - temporary open bites can develop when a child's mouth is filled with both primary and permanent
teeth.
You can determine if the open bite is due to a jaw misalignment or simply your child's mix of teeth by
taking them to an orthodontist for diagnosis.
The best treatment for an open bite varies based on its cause and the age of the person suffering from the
bite problem. An open bite in a child or adult caused by overgrowth of bone in the jaw above the molars is
often treated with surgery to remove the excess bone tissue.
An open bite caused by a bad habit, such as tongue thrusting or thumb sucking, in a child who still
has some or all of their baby teeth can often be prevented in adult teeth by correcting the bad habit before
adult teeth fully emerge.
Braces can often correct an open bite in a child or adult that is caused by a simple misalignment of the
teeth.
If you suspect that your child may have a bite problem, then contact our staff at Donald E. Snyder
Orthodontics to schedule a consultation to discuss your child's treatment options.
