We’re all born unique with our own quirks and differences. While some of these distinctions, such as freckles, are mostly harmless, others can cause pain and discomfort. An overbite is one of these variables that can cause jaw pain. Luckily, this can be fixed by a variety of solutions offered by a dentist, including cosmetic dentistry solutions.
An overbite is a common abnormality where the position of the upper and lower jawlines is misaligned. A type of malocclusion, the top front teeth usually cover the bottom front teeth. An overbite may be mild and easy to live with in some situations. But in more severe cases is can be painful.
In these severe instances, it’s useful to know what is causing your jaw pain and how a professional dentist can assist you.
Causes Of An Overbite
There are several instances that can cause an overbite, and it can occur from infancy to adulthood.
Genetics
Your genetic make-up is one of the most common causes of an overbite. There’s a chance that this hereditary trait is shared by parents, siblings, and other relatives that have the same or similar appearance.
The Size Or Shape Of Your Jaw
Largely determined by genetics, the size or shape of your jaw can contribute to an overbite. The alignment of your teeth will be greatly impacted by the size of your jaw and how your teeth line up.
Grinding Of Teeth
People grind their teeth for several reasons, usually during sleep. The most common reasons for grinding teeth include stress and concentration. This habit can lead to headaches, earaches, jaw pain, and even an overbite.
Sucking Your Thumb
Certain habits, such as sucking your thumb or sucking a pacifier, can contribute to the development of an overbite. While this habit is common among young children, it can contribute to serious jaw developmental issues down the line. Even though baby teeth are replaced by adult teeth, the damage may already be done.
Negative Effects Of An Overbite
The most obvious byproduct of an overbite is the appearance of what has become known as ‘buck teeth’. However, there are other non-cosmetic risks to consider.
Jaw Pain
Chronic jaw pain is one of the most common side effects of an overbite. As the shape, size, and alignment of the jaw can be major causes of an overbite, headaches, and jaw pain are common side effects.
Damage To Gums
In more serious cases of an overbite where the upper teeth protrude down to the bottom gums, the overbite can contribute to receding gums and cause damage. This can also affect tooth sensitivity, loss of teeth, tooth decay, and gum infection.
Speech Problems
Did you know that the position of your teeth plays a role in your speech? The misalignment of the teeth that are the result of an overbite can make it difficult to pronounce certain words and sounds.
Sleep Disorders
When the overbite is severe, it can also contribute to sleeping issues, such as sleep apnea, where breathing becomes a challenge. This can affect sleeping patterns and present a serious risk down the line.
Solutions To An Overbite
Luckily, a visit to your local dentist will present several treatment options to help fix an overbite and reduce the amount of jaw pain.
Invisalign
Using Invisalign will slowly move the teeth to correct the overbite and jaw alignment. Invisalign works similarly to conventional braces but patients are able to take out the aligners when brushing, flossing, eating, or drinking. The nearly transparent mouth trays appear less clunky and offer patients more confidence.
Braces
Braces work to fix an overbite in the same way as Invisalign but are less versatile. Additionally, they move the teeth to the correct position but are not able to be removed and are more visibly obvious.
Jaw Surgery
In more serious cases of an overbite, surgery may be needed to fix the alignment of teeth and the jaw. This solution is offered to adult patients to prevent the overbite from causing more issues down the road. A less invasive solution is teeth removal which can help to create more space for teeth to move and shift as needed.
Contact Your Dentist About Your Overbite
Is your overbite causing jaw pain? Are you concerned that your overbite will introduce issues down the road? Contact Boynton Beach’s professional and friendly Eriks Dental Group and find out how our team can help to eliminate jaw pain caused by your overbite.
Call us at 561-733-4004 or request an appointment online and find out more about how we can help you smile with confidence!