Apart from cosmetic concerns, an underbite can have a major impact on your quality of life. People with an overbite might find it difficult to bite and chew their food and experience pain in their mouth and face.
Overbites are more common than underbites and are called a Class II bite. One thing to remember is that having a slight overbite is normal because the shape of the human skull naturally allows for the upper teeth to extend beyond the lower teeth.
While less common than an overbite, an underbite is considered unattractive, especially when it's severe. It often leads to a lack of confidence and low self-esteem.
Having an overbite isn't always necessarily a bad thing. But an overbite that's too big or too small can have some adverse side effects. There's a higher risk of tooth decay. People with overbites may develop cavities easier, as the overbite can wear away enamel faster, leaving the teeth prone to cavities.
A 10 to 20% overlap is considered normal. If your upper teeth extend beyond your lower teeth by more than 20%, you might have an overbite. An overbite can cause difficulty breathing, chewing, or speaking, and could have negative effects on your jaw alignment.
Your lower teeth are not visible when you smile or talk. Many people find this unattractive, which can harm your personal and professional life. More significantly, an overbite can cause significant pain. It will pull on your TMJ, tearing the nerves in your jaw and cheeks.
A small overbite is appropriate for a normal bite: this is about 1 to 3 mm. More than 3 mm is considered too large of an overbite and requires orthodontic treatment.
Unfortunately, overbites not only get worse or more pronounced with age, but they cause a number of symptoms that can get worse with age as well, including headaches, trouble chewing, sinus issues, jaw pain, gum disease, and/or tooth decay.
From the front, an overbite is noticeable as a misalignment of lips, where the Cupid's bow does not align with the middle of the lower lip. The bodily structure is determined by the shape, size, and alignment of bones, so an overbite can significantly affect your jawline, and by extension, your facial structure.
Overbite
It seems that the development of overbite coincides with the invention of the fork, and since then it has become a characteristic of teeth that we consider attractive. Of course, too much of an overbite can be just as unattractive as no overbite or an underbite.
Early treatment of an underbite, when your child is between the ages of 7 and 10, may be the most effective timing to correct the condition. Early correction methods, such as widening the upper jaw, can create the opportunity for permanent teeth to grow in at a better position than they would have without correction.
Smiling - A dominant lower lip, which occurs with an underbite, leads to a droopy smile. Unfortunately, those affected by an underbite cannot move their mouth into a traditional smile, often resulting in further self-scrutiny.
It's estimated that from five to ten percent of the population has some form of underbite. The lower jawbone (mandible) might be overdeveloped, the upper jawbone (maxilla) might be underdeveloped, both bones could be affected, or, sometimes, tooth size and placement might cause an underbite.
An underbite is a complicated orthodontic issue that is relatively rare. The prevalence of this type of bite varies by ethnicity, with people of Southeast Asian descent having the highest rate at over 15%.
Does an underbite get worse with age? Yes, it can get worse with age, particularly if this condition isn't corrected before a child's growth spurt occurs during the teenage years. After this growth spurt, the jaw stops growing and an underbite can become more prominent.
The backs of the upper front teeth should rest in gentle contact with the fronts of the lower ones. This means that the upper teeth are in front of the lowers when the bite is closed. The edges of the upper teeth should not bite directly on the edges of the lower incisors or behind them (known as an underbite).
Does orthodontic treatment change your facial shape? If you have a large “overbite” or “underbite”, your misaligned jaw or protruding teeth will impact your facial appearance.
Invisalign or Braces for an Underbite
Fixing the discrepancy between the upper and lower jaw, and ensuring the upper and lower teeth meet correctly will create balance in the lower half of your face. It will also make your facial features look more proportionate and your chin less sharp.
The more pronounced your overbite is, the more your lips will puff out. If you like having full lips that form an attractive pout, you may be concerned about braces if they are going to change the appearance of your lips. You can expect your lips to appear less pronounced after the orthodontic treatment.
Try tilting your head to find an angle you're more comfortable with as you smile. Raising or lowering your head just a little bit can significantly change which teeth are visible. Raising the head, in particular, can make a smaller smile seem larger and brighter.
Your teeth affect your appearance, not just your smile. Patients with an overbite, or prior history of an overbite, are predisposed to having a double chin (i.e. submental fullness). The lower jaw bone in patients with an overbite will often be relatively too small, and subsequently the chin is weak or recessive.
Can an overbite be fixed naturally? You cannot fix overbite naturally; braces or surgery will be needed to correct an overbite. However, you can prevent some cases of overbite when you cure some childhood habits like thumb sucking, pencil chewing — overuse of dummies for babies.
The average overbite is around 2 – 4mm. This is a normal range and both your upper and lower teeth will be aesthetically appealing. If your overbite is smaller, your lower teeth will be more noticeable. When there is a significantly reduced overbite or none at all, it's referred to as an anterior open bite.
The severity of an overbite is determined by percentage. For instance, 100% overbite means your top teeth completely cover your bottom teeth. Most people have some degree of overbites, yet many do not need professional treatment.
One can usually see the degree of an individual's overbite by looking at them smile. If there is a greater than 50% vertical overlap of their top and bottom teeth, they have an excessive overbite.