A deep bite is a condition that can affect numerous people and relates to the alignment of your teeth.
This condition occurs when your front teeth go too far over your bottom teeth when you close your mouth.
This article will help you understand what a deep bite is and when you should seek treatment for it.
Luckily, there are numerous treatments for deep bites so this article will put you in the right direction.
What Is A Deep Bite?
A deep bite is one type of malocclusion of your teeth and occurs when your teeth are misaligned.
Misalignments can lead to complications with oral health when it’s left untreated.
A deep bite occurs when you close your mouth, and the upper front teeth go too far over your bottom front teeth.
If your bottom teeth are overlapped by your top teeth by four millimetres or more, then you could be considered to have a deep bite.
What Causes Deep Bite?
A deep bite can develop for several reasons, from genetics to a jaw injury.
You may have a history of deep bites in your family, or you were born with a small jaw.
It can even happen if there’s no room in your mouth for permanent teeth.
However, maybe it will develop by grinding your teeth or if you clench your jaw too much.
Around one in four people seek treatment for deep bites, as noticed by the American Association of Orthodontists.
Overall, it can affect fifteen to twenty per cent of American citizens, and it doesn’t matter if you’re a young child or an adult.
What Happens If Deep Bite Is Left Untreated?
Deep bites are common, but complications can occur if you don’t get treatment.
While many people choose to correct a deep bite for cosmetic reasons, there can be medical benefits to treating deep bites.
There are multiple complications that arise from having a deep bite.
Some examples include wearing down lower teeth, so you will need dental treatment.
Sores and ulcers can also develop on the roof of your mouth, and you can struggle with eating and drinking.
Unfortunately, if you have crooked teeth, you won’t be able to correct them until you treat the deep bite.
You will also be at higher risk of having a temporomandibular joint disorder.
These disorders can cause you to struggle with facial pain and tenderness of the joint, and you may find it difficult to move the joint.
To avoid these complications, you need to ensure that you follow your doctor’s treatment.
If you don’t follow through with the correct treatment, you may find that your condition will deteriorate, so you should always follow the treatment as it is given to you.
How Do You Treat Deep Bites?
You can treat deep bites for aesthetic or medical reasons, and you should contact your dentist or orthodontist to discuss your options.
Everyone gets treatment for a variety of different reasons, so all cases should be discussed on an individual basis.
Other conditions that may be related to your deep bite should be addressed alongside your treatment, as they may affect the plan.
If you want to treat your deep bite, you should understand what treatment options are available to you.
Braces And Retainers
Braces, retainers, and tray aligners can all be used to help correct your deep bite.
This is a long-term treatment. Braces are brackets that are installed onto your teeth and connected by wires.
Your dentist will then tighten these over the time period you’re being treated.
Retainers can be removed from your mouth and are made from wires and plastics. Unlike braces, they can be removed when needed.
However, it’s recommended that you would still need to wear them for most of the day.
Tray aligners are clear trays that help to align your teeth and work as an alternative treatment to using braces.
Most of these will need to be custom appliances to work correctly, and you will need to wear these braces, retainers, and tray aligners for months or years.
Removing Teeth
Your dentist may suggest that they remove certain teeth to help realign the bite.
If they do remove teeth, it will be some at the back of your mouth.
In many cases, children that receive this treatment may have their baby or permanent teeth removed to align their deep bite.
Repairing Teeth
Your dentist may recommend that repairing your teeth will help your deep bite. They may do this by restoring your back teeth.
In order for them to improve your back teeth, you may get implants on them, or your dentist may build up your worn-down teeth through bonding.
However, if your teeth are repaired, your dentist may suggest additional methods to help fix your deep bite.
Surgery
Sometimes, your dentist may even recommend jaw surgery if the issue doesn’t stem from your teeth but your bones.
This isn’t recommended for children, but adults and older teens may benefit from jaw surgery.
As part of the surgical treatment, your dentist may suggest you wear braces or an alternative dental appliance both before and after surgery.
If you do have surgery, you will most likely have to stay in the hospital and go under general anaesthesia.
After surgery, it will take you several weeks to recover from the treatment.
Conclusion
Deep bites may make you self-conscious, so you may want to be rid of them for aesthetic reasons.
It can affect your confidence, and if left untreated, a deep bite can also affect your oral health.
If you’re concerned about your deep bite, talk to your dentist or doctor about possible treatments to help fix it.
While not all treatments are comfortable, it’s essential that you stick to the treatment that you’re prescribed, or you may need to have surgery to correct it.
There’s no reason to be too worried about your deep bite, as it is a common health condition that affects many people.
He has combined both of these skills to create his first company, Isopharm Limited, which became one of the top learning platforms within the dental industry.
With over 120,000 active users, he has been able to educate others in order to provide better dental care around the world.
With his expertise and work in the field, Andrew has been able to help many dental care professionals succeed in treating their patients.
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