How to Fix an Overbite in Children

Overbites are a common thing in children, and this makes parents wonder how they can correct them. Everyone has their top teeth slightly overlapping their bottom teeth. However, it is called an overbite when they significantly protrude over the bottom teeth. Many parents are unsure whether or not to fix their children’s overbite and whether fixing or not fixing may significantly affect their overall health.

Overbites may seem like a minor issue when a child is young, but this is far from the truth. Untreated overbites can create painful conditions that may be more difficult to correct in adulthood. As orthodontists, we advise parents never to ignore such issues to avoid significant issues in life. If you notice this, it is essential to contact a kids dentist near me to treat the issue as soon as possible.

What is an Overbite

Overbite in kids is a common dental problem. An over-bite is a form of misaligned position of the teeth or “bad bite” when the jaws are closed. Normally the upper teeth should be over the lower teeth only up to 2mm. The lower teeth should be visible, too, as this is the ideal position.

Even a mouth with perfectly straight teeth can have problems if the over-bite is too large. If the protrusion is 3mm or more where the lower teeth are covered, it is known as an over-bite. There are two main categories of overbites, each with different treatment plans.

The first category is a dental-overbite which occurs when the teeth are misaligned, causing the lower jaw to be pushed back towards the neck. The other one is a skeletal-overbite, which occurs when the upper and lower jaws are not aligned properly; the jaws are the problem, not the teeth.

However, over-bites in children come in many forms;

• Overbite vs underbit :Whereas in an over-bite, the upper teeth protrude over the lower teeth, an underbite is the other way round. In this case, the lower teeth rest outside the upper teeth or the upper teeth inside the lower teeth. Overbite vs underbit is mainly about which teeth fall outside.
• In addition, there is a crossbite where the teeth and jaws are misaligned side to side.

Orthodontists categorize overbites from average to severe depending on how far the upper teeth have protruded over the lower teeth. An over-bite should never be confused with an overjet as they require different treatment and mean completely different things. While an overjet means how far down the upper teeth are over the lower teeth, an overjet is how far forward the upper teeth are over the lower teeth.

Effects of an Overbite

While a minor and routine-overbite may not have any noticeable effects on the child’s health, a severe-overbite that is left untreated may lead to the many potential complications as follows;

• Crowded and crooked teeth
• Gum disease
• Tooth decay or cavities
• Breathing issues
• High risk of damaged front teeth
• Difficulty in opening and closing the mouth
• Excessive jaw tension that may lead to headaches, jaw pain or TMD (Temporomandibular disorder)
• The soft tissue in case the lower teeth touch the roof of the mouth
• Speech problems/ impediments
• Altered facial structure
• Difficulty or pain while chewing and eating
• Negative impact on mouth and jaw development
• Poor/ low self-esteem

Causes of an Overbite

There are many known causes of overbites. First, overbites and overjets are hereditary (runs in the family) in many cases caused by factors such as jaw shape. While you cannot do anything about genetics, you can influence factors such as facial development as the child grows. Other causes include missing teeth in the lower jaw and overcrowding of teeth.

Additionally, overbite in children can also be caused or worsened by myofunctional habits, which include;

• teeth grinding,
• improper tongue positioning
• Nail-biting
• Prolonged thumb or finger sucking
• Tongue thrusting when the tongue presses too forward in the mouth
• Mouth breathing

Other causes are extended use of pacifiers and bottles/sippy cups. During early childhood, these habits may force the upper teeth or jaw forward while pushing the lower teeth backward. Fortunately, with early intervention, you can naturally stop these habits and allow the damage to correct itself without causing further damage.

Overbite Diagnosis

We advise parents to constantly check their children’s mouths for children as young as five years to check for overbite development. It is easy to note if your child has an overbite as the teeth do not fit properly, and the child may not be able to close their mouth completely.

You may also start to notice issues such as breathing, pain during eating and chewing, jaw pain, and sinus congestion as the overbite develops. It would be best if you visited a kids dentist near me before the child is 8 to prevent it from worsening and reaching a point where the damage cannot be corrected.

At the clinic, the orthodontist will notice the overbite during a physical exam. In addition to the exam, the dentist may conduct a dental X-ray to examine further the overbite, the alignment of the teeth and the severity of the problem. Since the orthodontist specializes in teeth and jaw alignment, they will be able to correct the damage.

Are there home treatment options

There is no way of treating an overbite at home. Therefore if you want to treat an overbite in children, you must visit an orthodontist. However, there is much you can do at home to prevent the development of an overbite or promote natural correction at the early stages of development. Unless the overbite is a result of genetics, you can start by dealing with the habits that promote the malocclusion as the child is still growing to allow the damage to reverse itself. However, note that this is only suitable if the overbite is not severe.

Therefore, treating overbites at home is more of trying to prevent further damage. Prevention measures include;

• Avoid long-term usage of sippy cups and bottles with spill-proof valves. Instead, transition to a regular cup once your child is physically capable.
• Discourage thumb sucking past infancy and other habits that may promote worsening of an overbite, including nail-biting or chewing.
• Limit the use of a pacifier at around the age of 3

With home remedies, it is vital that you first identify the triggers and the severity of the damage. These bad habits may stem from stress, boredom, loneliness, hunger and tension. Start at this point. You can only get the correct answer if you ask yourself the right question. If the problem is far gone, schedule a visit to a kids’ dentist near me.

Most importantly, try as much as possible to avoid internet treatment no matter how convincing the before and after photos may be. As with everything that seems too good to be true, internet treatments may cause your child more harm than good.

When seeking medical treatment

It is advisable to correct an overbite during early childhood development. During this time, the child’s teeth and jaws are still developing. Even though the correction is possible at any age, it is much easier at an early age when they are still growing.

The American Dental Association recommend considering correction between the age of 8 and 14. The dentist will do a physical exam, then carry out an X-ray to make a further diagnosis and determine a suitable treatment option. This is after establishing what is causing the buck bite and the severity of the damage.

How do orthodontist fix overbites?

Treatment for overbites in children and adults is different. In children, it is much easier with fewer complications. Before beginning treatment, the orthodontist will conduct a comprehensive screening to determine whether it has dental or skeletal causes, the severity of the overbite and other related problems. There are several orthodontic treatment options for overbites. Since people are different, the dentist will prescribe the best option suitable for your case.

How do orthodontists fix overbites? The best place to start is braces, while in other cases, overbite treatment may involve braces with other auxiliary appliances. The process of overbite treatment must be done correctly by a licensed, professional and experienced orthodontist. If not, the process may result in severe injuries and complications to the jawbone and teeth.

What type of braces do you get for an overbite

While traditional braces are known to correct a severe overbite in children, they also can correct misaligned, crowded and crooked teeth. These braces are made from ceramic or metal. We attach the braces to each tooth and connect them using a wire. In addition to aligning, it helps to straighten the crooked teeth on both the top and bottom of the mouth.

Once the teeth are straight, we add coils, springs and bands together to help shift and align the jaw in the right place. These braces are usually worn from one to two years and are not removable at home. Usually, every month or so, your orthodontists will be adjusting and tightening your braces accordingly. Traditional braces are usually the most effective and quickest way of correcting overbite in kids since they cannot be removed at home.

Additionally, the braces offer consistent and constant pressure on the teeth in the long term, and they must be moved slowly into an optimal position. After removing the braces, your child may have to wear a retainer. This removable device is worn according to the orthodontist’s instructions, whether full-time or only during sleep. Its primary purpose is to keep the jaw and teeth in place to ensure overbite in kids does not return.

Other types of braces you can get for an overbite?

You may be wondering what type of braces do you get for an overbite apart from traditional braces. Well there are aligners for overbite like Invisalign. These are less obvious than traditional braces. Though they are removable, you must wear them at least 22 hours a day, and you can only remove them when eating or brushing your teeth. However, we only use aligners for overbite to correct minor to moderate-overbite in kids. This is because they do not offer consistent pressure enough to correct a severe-overbite in children.

For effectiveness, you must commit yourself to wear them all the time. When you are not wearing them, your mouth has no force to move the teeth to the correct position. We also use headgear to modify the growth of a lower jaw in teens and kids. This is also a good option for correcting-overbite in kids. They work by correcting an excess gap between lower and upper teeth and are mainly used with braces to align the jaws.

Most of these appliances, in addition to positioning the lower jaw, work to hold the growth of the upper jaw. They hold the jaw to help it adapt to the new position.

How do orthodontists fix overbites

In an extreme scenario, overbite in kids may require corrective jaw surgery. This is called orthogenic surgery and is used to correct jaw misalignment. This misalignment mainly occurs when the upper and lower jaw grows at different rates. The surgery is meant to modify and realign the jaw bones. However, this treatment requires wearing braces before and after the surgery. This is only an option if no other overbite-treatment can correct the problem.

Takeaway

You may have been looking at an over-bite as a mere issue only impacting how you smile and your confidence. But this is not all. Even though typically everyone has an overbite, it should be up to 2mm. Beyond that, it starts being a dental issue that requires medical attention. Suppose the problem is not corrected at an early age. In that case, over-bite in children may develop to severe levels where the only treatment is teeth extraction or surgery. To avoid this, contact us to book an appointment with a pediatric dentist with experience in dental health.