Your bite (also known as your dental occlusion) is the way in which your top and bottom teeth fit together and work together when eating, talking and sleeping. Unfortunately, it's relatively common to have a misaligned bite, and when you do, it can cause a lot of problems in your daily life — as well as a lack of confidence. Thankfully, it's not difficult to correct your bite with orthodontic treatment like braces, which move your teeth into their proper positions for the best possible results. Here are three of the most common bite problems and how orthodontics can fix them.
1. Over or underbite
An overbite is when your upper teeth overhang your bottom teeth. In dental terms, this occurs when your maxilla (upper jawbone) is shorter than your mandible (lower jawbone). Conversely, an underbite is when your lower teeth overlap your upper teeth due to a shorter mandible and longer maxilla. Overbites and underbites can occur for a variety of reasons, including genetics, accidents and even possibly oral habits like thumb sucking and dummy use.
Your orthodontist can correct your overbite or underbite with treatments like braces or invisible aligners that gradually push your upper and lower jaws into a more event position. Note that underbites can be more difficult to treat than overbites, so they may require longer use of aligners.
2. Crossbite
A crossbite is when one or more of your teeth or jawbone block the way for other teeth to come together. Unlikely to correct themselves as you grow older, crossbites are typically caused by incorrect jaw growth, so there's little you can do to prevent the problem.
You can, however, treat a crossbite easily with orthodontics. Some crossbites can be corrected using a palate expander, which sits at the roof of your mouth and pushes your teeth apart, allowing space for the crossed teeth to straighten up. Sometimes, braces are used alongside a palate expander for the best results.
3. Open bite
An open bite occurs when some of your teeth touch or overlap while others sit far away from each other. If you have an anterior open bite, your back teeth sit together but your front teeth don't touch. A posterior open bite describes the opposite. With this, front teeth touch while the back teeth don't. Many people with open bites have difficulty eating and speaking, so it's always a good idea to have the problem corrected.
While severe cases may need surgery, many open bites can be corrected with braces or invisible aligners. Over time, braces can realign the jaw and push teeth backwards or forwards to create greater overlap. To learn more, contact an orthodontics clinic.
Share22 September 2021
As you age, it can become harder to take care of your teeth. Motor challenges can make it hard to floss, while memory issues may make it easy to overlook brushing. Whether you are a senior looking for solutions to some of the common dental problems or a senior with specific questions about cavities or oral surgery, you have come to the right place. In this blog, I am going to touch on a range of topics related to seniors and oral health. This is the type of resource I wish my mum would have had access to in her senior years, and I hope you enjoy having access to it during yours. I appreciate you reading my posts.
