Understanding Bite Problems And How Braces Can Help

Orthodontic treatment has an essential dual function for dental health: It helps fix your bite while protecting against multiple oral problems that could develop. The decision to get orthodontic treatment for straightening teeth produces various advantages that many patients don’t expect. This post will present a complete explanation of how braces produce meaningful dental improvements beyond their cosmetic benefits.

What is a Bite?

The dental definition of bite describes how teeth match up when you close your mouth. The closing position of the mouth requires a perfect fit between the upper and lower teeth to operate correctly.

Problems in tooth and jaw structure develop when teeth are incorrectly aligned.
The appearance of teeth serves as one aspect among several consequences of a wrong bite alignment. Infection from a bite leads patients to suffer headaches, together with neck or ear pain, while experiencing problems chewing food, as well as severe dental health issues.

What Causes Bite Problems?

The various forms of bites persist in different forms, yet they stem from either genetic or environmental conditions listed below:

The physical habits that affect jaw development include bottle feeding along with mouth breathing and thumb sucking while also including tongue thrusting behavior.

• Genetics
• Facial Development
• Injury

What Are the Common Types of Bite Problems?

The proper alignment of upper and lower teeth fails in cases of malocclusions known as bite problems. The problems you face result in cosmetic troubles, eating and speech limitations, and difficulties in oral maintenance. The following presents the most typical forms of bite problems that exist today:

Overbite

An overbite develops when the front teeth of the upper jaw position themselves in front of some portions of the lower front teeth. Worn-down front teeth, especially the two incisors, become the primary targets due to this bite pattern.

The combination of an overbite treatment, unwantedly, causes harm to gum tissue, so patients typically develop a “gummy” smile appearance. The braces, including invisible aligners, will correct overbite conditions regardless of depth (overbites mainly affect deep bites in the lower teeth).

Underbite

An underbite, also known as anterior crossbite, results in the facial structure known as a bulldog appearance through lower jaw extension ahead of the upper jaw. When left unattended, an underbite leads to jaw joint strain, which develops into headaches and jaw difficulties and eventually produces TMJ disorders.

The treatment process for this severe bite alignment takes longer than for people with mild overbite cases, thus requiring an extended braces duration. A severe underbite can only be adequately treated by combining braces with corrective jaw surgery to reshape the lower or upper jaw structures for straight bite alignment.

You should talk to the Arco orthodontist’s office, as they will decide what treatment is best for your underbite.

Crossbite

The dental condition of crossbite affects one or several teeth by causing the upper teeth to rest inside the lower teeth. Misaligned teeth and bone abnormalities can cause this condition, which generally deteriorates with age. People experience difficulties during biting and chewing due to this bite condition.

Your children must visit an orthodontist before they turn seven because detection at this stage becomes essential for dental planning. The dentists at Grangerland Dental will evaluate your situation presently and foresee potential future malocclusion problems even without manifesting signs. Fast treatment of this condition produces better results.

Openbite

An early approach to treatment offers the best results since open bites produce risks for swallowing and speech troubles. People with open bites experience either anterior or posterior open bites.

An anterior open bite exists when the upper and lower teeth fail to connect for any overlap while the back teeth are in position. The upper teeth successfully align with the lower teeth, but the rear teeth stay separate in a posterior open bite. Your orthodontist should fabricate custom braces when managing this particular malocclusion.

Crowding

Accumulated teeth cannot fit into their proper positions when the oral space prevents adequate eruption. Most braces successfully treat orthodontic crowding, one of the most typical conditions orthodontists treat.

People experience confidence loss regarding their smiles because of tooth overcrowding, although this condition extends beyond aesthetic issues. Poor mouth hygiene occurs due to tooth crowding, leading to cavity formation and gum disease development up to the severe condition known as gingivitis.

Spacing

Many individuals are affected by spacing, which represents the opposite of crowding. The undiagnosed condition of spacing produces risks for cavities and gum disease similar to crowding, although it presents the opposite phenomenon.

It arises because unprotected spaces accumulate food particles and plaque, which could result in cavities and gum disease. Spacing occurs because the teeth differ in size, and the jaw features inadequate space. The self-litigating Damon braces serve better than traditional braces for patients who need to space their teeth.

What Procedures Braces Perform to Treat Bite Malalignments?

Braces prove helpful in treating various bite-related conditions.
A consistent, gentle application of force during treatment allows braces to move teeth into their correct positions progressively. Braces apply a specific method for treating different bite disorders through the following sequence:

• Realigning Teeth
  The dental appliances shift teeth to specific locations to improve dental health outcomes, such as overcrowding treatment through proper tooth alignment, which decreases space between teeth.
• Adjusting Jaw Position
  The positioning issue with jaw alignment results in specific bite problems, and braces and expanders or headgear appliances help the jaw to align correctly with the upper and lower jaws.
• Improving Functionality
  Brace treatment enhances your dental appearance and the working ability of your jaw and teeth structure. When dental elements align correctly, your jaw muscles function more efficiently during chewing and speaking, thus reducing pain and stopping further complications.
• Enhancing Oral Health
  The improper alignment of teeth allows food debris to collect within unclean spaces, heightening susceptibility to periodontal diseases and tooth decay. Proper teeth alignment through braces enables better access to oral hygiene tools. It results in healthier gums and teeth.
• Boosting Confidence
  When an aligned bite straightens your teeth, it significantly enhances your self-esteem while building your confidence. Having teeth that deliver an attractive appearance and proper functionality promotes total well-being and enhanced satisfaction with your external look.

Conclusion

Solving bite issues is essential to enhance oral wellness and increase self-confidence. You can use braces to correctly straighten your teeth and jaws for better functionality and better appearance results. Our orthodontist specialists will guide you through resolving overbite and underbite conditions, crossbites, and more comprehensive bite concerns.

Contact Grangerland Dentist TX, today for all your bite-related issues.