Healthy white teeth are everybody’s dream. Our teeth help us in chewing our food and also make our personality more appealing. Maintaining oral hygiene and brushing the teeth twice a day can help in avoiding many teeth problems. Apart from issues like tooth pain and decay, there are some teeth problems which are related to the structure of the teeth.
Teeth overjet is a condition when the upper teeth extend beyond the lower set of teeth. A person with teeth overjet has an upper teeth set sticking out abnormally beyond the lower teeth. Teeth overjet becomes a problem when the gap between the teeth is more than 2 millimetres apart. In case the distance between the teeth is more, then a person will have chewing problems, jaw pain and frequent tongue biting.
The overall appeal of a person gets impacted with increased teeth overjet. Increased teeth overjet alters the smile and leads to problems in closing the mouth completely. Some people face speech issues due to teeth overjet.
Causes of Teeth Overjet
Heredity can also be linked to the teeth overjet.
Tongue thrust is also believed to be a reason behind teeth overjet by many dentists.
Excessive thumb-sucking is considered a reason for having teeth overjet. People who had a habit of sucking their thumb as a child can develop teeth overjet.
Teeth overjet can also result from extended use to pacifiers in children.
The underdevelopment in the lower jaw bone can also lead to teeth overjet. When the lower jaw bone is underdeveloped, then at times the upper jaw bone can cover the lower teeth as well.
Often teeth overbite can be misdiagnosed as teeth overjet. Hence, it is important to understand the difference between the two.
Difference between Teeth Overjet and Teeth Overbite
Teeth overbite is a condition where the upper teeth overlap the lower teeth. In teeth overbite, the lower teeth are still visible when a person bites down completely. In increased teeth overjet condition, the lower teeth set will not be visible after biting down and also the lower teeth edges may hit the palate or the mouth roof.
In both conditions the upper teeth cover the lower teeth portion, but the primary difference is the teeth angle. The difference can be identified by a particular angle with which the lower teeth are covered by the upper teeth.
Teeth overbite is mainly about the vertical relationship between upper and lower teeth, where teeth overjet is mostly about the horizontal relationship.
Consequences of Teeth Overjet
Without proper and timely treatment, teeth overjet can lead to the following consequences:
Gum related issues
Slurred speech and speech issues such as lisp
Plaque build-up leading to tooth decay
Teeth chipping
Continuous pain during chewing
Problem in biting and swallowing food
A person suffering from teeth overjet may have to deal with following problems as well:
Low self-esteem due to insecurities related to smile and overall appearance of the teeth
Problems in sleeping
Embarrassment
Irregular facial expressions.
Other jaw-related problems
Now, it is true that the patients who start their treatment at the age of seven get the best results. But it does not mean that if one is past seven years of age, they cannot get the teeth overjet corrected. It may take longer, but it is not impossible.
For getting the best results, the ideal age to start the treatment is seven years of age. Beyond that age, the patient can still be treated, but the treatment may need more time for the overjet to be corrected.
Treating Teeth Overjet
We are living in the age of advanced technology and the patients can consult their
dentist and select one of the several ways for treating teeth overjet. Dental aids like bridges, braces, crowns, etc., can be used for the treatment.
Illusion aligners are considered the best option for treating teeth overjet. Clear aligners are very comfortable and are generally used by dentists for treating teeth overjet in teenagers and adults.
Illusion aligners are very convenient as they are invisible and transparent. These aligners are made of plastic and can be customized according to the patient’s teeth structure.
It is the most current version of traditional braces. With regular use the teeth can be aligned with minimum pain and discomfort. Teeth overjet can be easily corrected by consulting a good dentist.
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