overbite before and after braces

Your dentist may have advised you to visit an orthodontist if you have an overjet or overbite

Although having a minor overbite after getting your braces off or having one come back a few years later is not typical, it is also not unheard of. 

You can decide to ignore the overbite and maintain it, or you can decide to have braces again and fix the overbite, depending on how much of an overbite remains after braces. 

Let us know more about overbite now in this blog.

Why Overbite Needs to Be Fixed?

Misaligned teeth and jaws can cause you to compensate excessively when chewing and speaking, which can eventually result in face pain. 

A significant overbite may result in pain while biting or chewing, migraines, and even jaw joint issues like temporomandibular joint dysfunction (TMJ).

Your oral health can be jeopardized by overbites, yet orthodontic treatment can make your smile beautiful. Last but not least, an overbite can alter the way your mouth looks and how you look from the side. 

Even a minor overbite might make you feel self-conscious, but larger overbites can significantly alter how your face looks and how confident you feel.

What to Know about Overbite Before and After Braces?

Overbites come in two varieties. When the top teeth cross over the bottom teeth, this is known as a vertical overbite. When the upper front teeth protrude over the lower teeth, this condition is known as a horizontal overbite. 

These are the outcomes of several problems. Both vertical and horizontal overbites are conceivable at the same time. If you have some bottom jaw teeth missing and your remaining teeth have moved backwards, you may also have an overbite.

Skeletal overbites occur when the top teeth and bottom teeth do not line up properly due to an overly big upper jaw or an undersized lower jaw. Dental overbites occur when the overbite is solely due to the teeth. Treatment for these two categories varies greatly.

One thing to keep in mind is that a healthy bite really includes a small amount of overbite. The distance between the top and bottom teeth that are out of alignment is typically between 1-2 mm.

Because the alternative is painful and costly jaw surgery, you could occasionally still have a minor overbite after getting your braces off. 

Although new technology has made it feasible to do more without surgery, braces and elastics have limitations in what they can fix. 

Still, surgery may be the only option for some people. However, you should be aware that the recovery period may last for a few weeks because your jaw needs to heal before you can wear braces.

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Can Braces Fix an Overbite Teeth?

Most overbite issues can be resolved with braces. During the assessment phase, X-rays are used to determine the type of overbite and the position of the teeth and jaw. After that, both the upper and lower dental arches are fitted with braces.

The archwire first straightens and aligns the teeth. In the second stage of braces, elastics (small rubber bands) may be used to progressively realign the jawline. 

The bands are fastened to the brackets from the front to the back or top to bottom to help move the teeth and jaw. The bands are taken off and put back on before eating, drinking, and brushing their teeth. In order to exert consistent pressure, the bands must be worn all the time.

The teeth and jaw may hurt more frequently if they are worn and taken off frequently.  The last stage of treatment involves wearing a retainer or utilizing a permanent wire to maintain the teeth in the proper alignment.

Overbite Before and After Braces Images

Patient 1: 

Overbite with Front Teeth Gap, Treated with Dezy Aligners

patient 1 overbite before and after braces result


Patient 2:

Overbite with Crowded Teeth, Treated with Dezy Aligners 

patient 2 - overbite with crowded teeth before and after braces result
patient 2 - overbite with teeth crowding before and after braces result side view


Patient 3:

Overbite with big front teeth gap, Treated with Dezy Aligners

patient 3 - overbite with teeth gap before and after braces result
patient 3 - overbite with big front teeth gap before and after braces result side view


Patient 4:

Overbite with large front teeth gap, Treated with Dezy Aligners

patient 4 - overbite with large front teeth gap before and after braces result
patient 4 - overbite with large front teeth gap before and after braces result side angle


Patient 5:

Overbite with crossbite teeth, Treated with Dezy Aligners

patient 5 - overbite with crossbite teeth before and after braces result

Noticing Mild Overbite Before and After Braces

Sometimes, if you get braces too early and don't get follow-up care, your overbite will come back. This is not a result of the teeth shifting; rather, the jaw has reached its full adult size.

Your teeth will wander if you don't wear your retainer religiously after getting rid of your braces. The jaw is actually more like a matrix than a dense bone, and ligaments hold your teeth in place. 

The ligaments will attempt to contract again if you recently removed your braces since the matrix has not yet completely set around your teeth. As a result, your teeth may wander back to their original position.

How Long Do Braces Take for Overbite? 

Overbites can be eliminated with traditional braces, which are also the most popular way to treat them. 

Depending on the severity of the overbite, braces can fix an overbite in six to twelve months.

Can Overbite Come Back after Braces? 

Yes, overbites can return after braces if proper retention measures aren't followed. Regular retainer use and orthodontist check-ups help prevent relapse and maintain the corrected bite.

Things to remember to avoid overbite after braces:

1. Put on retainers as directed.

The orthodontist would advise you to use retainers after braces treatment to maintain your teeth firmly in their new locations and prevent them from slipping back to their pre-treatment positions.

2. Necessary wear time

Retainers are often worn for 6 to 12 months at a period. You might need to wear them for 12 to 20 hours every day for the first three to six months. Y

ou can switch to nightwear for the following six months. In some circumstances, you might still need to wear retainers for three to four nights a week after the first year.

The wear period might change based on a number of variables, including your age and the condition of your teeth. 

You must go to routine checkups while wearing retainers to monitor and assess how stable your teeth are. Your diet, oral hygiene, and general cleanliness can all affect how long you wear anything.

3. Keeping the Retainers Clean

It is best to clean retainers every day because they may be put on and taken off quickly. They can be cleaned with a toothbrush and toothpaste after being washed in cold water. 

This will lessen the invasion of bacteria and assist in removing any stains and food plaque. Retainers should not be washed in hot water as the plastic may become distorted.

How Much Do Overbite Braces Cost? 

The most widely used form of treatment for overbites is braces. By applying pressure to the teeth with the use of brackets, wires, and elastic bands, braces straighten them out.

Braces typically cost between $4,000 and $10,000, and the length of the therapy might range from 6 months to 2 years. Once finished, you must use a permanent wire or a retainer to keep the teeth in place.

Children and teenagers may require extra treatment, such as orthodontic headgear if a problem with jaw alignment is a contributing factor in the development of an overbite. Jaw surgery may be required for adults.

Takeaway

Ask your orthodontist nearby for their opinion and advice on how to adjust your bite if you have an overbite after getting braces and want to have it fixed. 

You'll be so happy you sought advice from a professional on how to correct an overbite before and after braces, took control of your smile, and underwent the procedure. 

Correctly aligned teeth will make it simpler for you to chew and communicate, as well as increase your self-esteem.

Take a free smile assessment