If you grew up without ever having received any kind of orthodontic treatment, your teeth may not line up properly. The top teeth might come down slightly in front of the bottom teeth, or they might be just a little too far back instead. No matter what kind of abnormality your bite is suffering from, it can have a devastating effect on your ability to bite, speak, chew, and smile correctly. Learn more about the consequences of an unharmonious bite – as well as how the condition can be corrected with Invisalign.
What Kind of Bite Problems are There?
If your bite is properly aligned, the top teeth should come down just a little bit over the lower teeth with your molars (the teeth near the back of the mouth that play a key role in chewing) fitting together neatly. Unfortunately, sometimes the bite won’t develop properly due to any number of circumstances. Here are a few kinds of improper bites you might suffer from:
- Overbite: If your teeth are larger than normal, or if you sucked on your bottom lip as a child, you may have developed an overbite, which is when the upper teeth are too far ahead of the bottom teeth.
- Underbite: As you could probably guess, an underbite is the opposite of an overbite; the lower teeth will be ahead of the upper teeth, causing the lower jaw to look larger than normal.
- Crossbite: People with crossbite will find that some of their upper teeth bite inside the lower teeth. This type of misalignment may not affect every tooth in your mouth, but it can cause you to bite your cheek or lip.
- Open Bite: If your teeth don’t actually touch each other when you close your mouth, speech and chewing could become far more difficult.
What are the Consequences of a Misaligned Bite?
When the bite isn’t aligned correctly, the forces of chewing will cause excess wear and pain in your teeth. In extreme cases, some of your teeth may break or fall out entirely. Sore muscles and gum recession are also likely consequences. No matter if you’re already suffering from these symptoms or simply have let your bite go uncorrected for a long time, it’s best to visit your dentist as soon as you can to discuss your treatment options.
How Can Invisalign Fix Your Bite?
As an adult, you don’t necessarily have to worry about getting braces to fix your bite; in many cases, the necessary adjustments can be made with Invisalign clear braces. These plastic appliances gradually guide the teeth into position over the course of about 12 to 18 months. Unlike braces, they’re hard to see in the mouth, and you can take them out to eat anything you want.
If you have a child that you suspect has developed a bite problem, or if you yourself have long been bothered with the way your teeth line up, talk to your dentist today to ask about Invisalign and other treatment options. You could end up avoiding a lot of oral health problems and pain in the long run!
About the Author
Dr. Gladston Silva believes that excellent patient care means carefully listening to and understanding his patients’ unique needs and desires before creating a treatment plan. He earned his DDS degree from the University of Itauna in Brazil in 1995 and went on to earn a DMD from Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale in 2012. He is skilled in providing a number of different services at his Daytona Beach practice. To ask about Invisalign or other solutions for an uneven bite, schedule an appointment at Lakeside Daytona Dentists by visiting his website or calling (386) 274-2021.