Overbite, or buck teeth, is a misalignment of the teeth that occurs when your top front teeth extend beyond your bottom front teeth. Many people have a slight overbite. A more severe overbite may lead to tooth decay, gum disease, or jaw pain. You can prevent children from developing an overbite by limiting thumb-sucking and pacifier use. But what can an adult do to fix this dental problem? This is where procedures like dental facelifts enter the picture.
Why do you need to correct an overbite?
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.
How does an overbite develop?
In some cases, an overbite is hereditary (it runs in the family). Genetic traits, such as jaw shape, can affect the alignment of your teeth. This usually happens because of a misaligned jaw or jawbone growth that causes one part of your teeth to be larger than another.
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.
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, are used during growth spurts to re-position the jaw.
- Braces to slowly move all the teeth into the 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 (e.g., dental facelift)
- Teeth removal to allow the remaining teeth more room.
What is a dental facelift for overbite?
A dental facelift is an orthodontic treatment used to help people with overbites achieve a more aligned and aesthetically pleasing smile. An overbite occurs when the upper teeth stick out past the lower teeth when you bite down. A dental facelift aims to correct this malalignment by realigning your bottom and top jawbones into their natural positions. This procedure involves “raising the bite” so as to stretch the facial muscles and muscles around the mouth to reverse the signs of aging and reduce the appearance of wrinkles. This helps reduce tension on your temporomandibular joint (TMJ), which can lead to pain in other areas, such as your neck and head.
Benefits of Face Lift Dentistry
Patients who want to undergo this treatment procedure can expect these improvements:
- jawline and facial profile enhancement
- reversal of aging effects
- ultimate smile
- restoration of worn-down teeth
- underbite correction
- relief of jaw pain and headaches without surgery or drilling down your healthy teeth.
Facelift Dentistry: What to expect
The first step is to consult a reliable provider to have them examine your face. They will use technology to determine your eligibility for the treatment. They can also show you the expected results once the procedure is completed. You will be asked to have a follow-up consultation where a series of x-rays, photos, and videos of your facial profile will be taken before creating your customized appliance. The jaw restoration treatment will then take place, as well as some other necessary individual dental restoration to fine-tune the final results.
The results of a dental facelift are usually visible immediately after treatment, although it may take up to six months before you begin to notice positive changes in your smile. Depending on the severity of your malalignment, you may need several visits before achieving optimal results from your dentist or orthodontist. A key benefit to undergoing a dental facelift for correcting an overbite is that it does not involve braces or painful surgeries. This makes it much easier and less intimidating for those who have already put off taking care of their oral health due to fear of complicated procedures or expensive treatments.
Risks of a dental facelift
Although a dental facelift can produce amazing results, it is important to keep in mind that some potential risks are associated with this procedure, such as infection, gum recession, and loss of tooth enamel due to grinding forces generated by the realigning process. To ensure successful results, make sure that you choose an experienced dentist or orthodontist who has plenty of experience performing these procedures safely and effectively.
Getting a dental facelift can help give people with overbites the beautiful smiles they have always wanted without resorting to expensive surgical procedures or long-term commitments like braces require. However, as with any medical procedure, some potential risks are associated, and it should only be undertaken after thoroughly discussing all options with an experienced professional dentist or orthodontist.
References:
https://www.luxuriousmagazine.com/non-surgical-facelift-dentistry/