Your smile is your most important asset. Smiling not only boosts confidence and helps you to communicate with others, it also has been shown to help reduce your blood pressure and lower your risk of heart disease.
Unfortunately, many people lose confidence in their smile as a result of the condition and the appearance of their teeth, such as that caused by a deep bite.
In this blog, we discuss deep bite and how braces can be used to correct them to help give you a life-changing smile you are proud of.
What is a deep bite?
In dentistry, a deep bite is a bad bite where there is an excessive vertical overlap between the front teeth. In Dental terms it is a type of malocclusion. This often occurs when the teeth and jaw are misaligned but can also be caused by periodontal disease (gum disease), worn, broken down teeth, or due to the loss of teeth in the back of the mouth.
Genetics, teeth crowding, worn or decayed teeth, poor or failing dental work, missing teeth, in particular missing back teeth can all lead to the deep bite.
There are several habits which can cause a bite to worsen, such as lip biting, nail biting, thumb sucking or teeth grinding.
If not properly treated, a bad bite can lead to significant teeth and gum damage, headaches, hearing and digestive problems and temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder.
The most common types of bite disorder are:
- A deep bite or excessive overbite
- An edge-to-edge bite
- An open bite
- Teeth crowding
- Teeth protrusion
- Teeth malocclusion
In this article we will focus on a deep bite.
Deep bite
A deep bite occurs when there is an excessive overlap of upper front teeth over the lower front teeth. A normal healthy overbite should be around about 1-2 mm. A deeper bite can lead to excessive tooth wear, protrusion of the front teeth and in extreme cases damage to the gums behind the upper teeth in the roof of the mouth. Ultimately it can lead to the premature loss of the front teeth.
Read more about deep bite here.
Can braces fix a deep bite?
Thankfully, a deep bite can be corrected with several effective orthodontic treatment options using various types of braces. In younger patients, this is usually the treatment of choice and correcting a deep bite will improve the functionality of your teeth, reduce tooth wear, help keep the teeth healthy making flossing and brushing easier, and improve your confidence and smile.
However, in older patients and patients where there is significant tooth wear, missing or broken down teeth, restorative treatment is also often required.
Deep bite treatment often requires a multi-discipline approach, involving both orthodontics and restorative dentistry.
Orthodontic treatment for deep bite correction are available here at Advanced Dentistry and include:
- Hidden (lingual) braces
- Conventional fixed (labial) braces
- Clear braces
- Clear aligners, such as Invisalign
As well as having braces as part of orthodontic treatment for deep bite, there will likely be some restorative work needed to teeth that have become worn away.
While this will be judged on a case-by-case basis, restoring the teeth can be carried out using several techniques including:
- Composite bonding to build up worn teeth
- Porcelain veneers and overlays
- Crowns, Bridges and dental implants
If restoration of missing teeth is needed, this can be achieved through dental implants and/or bridge work. Often, deep overbites can be corrected as part of orthodontic treatment. However, in severe cases of deep bite, the patient may require orthognathic surgery to correct the teeth and jaw.
How long does it take to fix a deep bite?
This depends on the individual patient’s situation and what treatment is required to achieve the best result. While every individual is different in terms of the severity of their deep bite, Orthodontic treatment will usually be required for 1-3 years. Once the braces are removed, fixed retainers are usually attached to the inside of the lower front teeth and removable retainers will need to be worn on a regular basis to keep the teeth in place.
If restorative treatment is also required, this is sometimes performed prior to orthodontic treatment or after the orthodontic treatment depending on the individual case. In some cases, initial restorative treatment has to be performed before the orthodontics starts and then completed after the orthodontic treatment is finished.
Does a deep overbite need to be corrected?
Of all the many bite disorders, a deep bite or excessive overbite can be the most detrimental to the teeth and gums and can also affect the overall aesthetics of the smile. As mentioned above, a deep bite can result in headaches, temporomandibular joint pain or disorder, excessive tooth wear, splaying or protruding of the front teeth and this can affect your smile and confidence.
In severe cases of deep bite, there is a risk of the top edges of the lower teeth biting so far into the gum tissue in the roof of the mouth that the gums become stripped away from the back of the top teeth. This is a serious issue and can lead to loss of the front teeth. Therefore, it is much better that a deep bite is corrected before serious damage occurs.
Life-changing dentistry
If you’re not 100% happy with your smile, you owe it to yourself to do something about it. Contact us today to discuss your deep bite and discover the available treatments for your teeth.
