The functionality of your bite, defined as how your upper and lower teeth and jaw align when you close your mouth, is vital to your quality of life.
A poor bite is known by many names, depending on what is considered wrong. An overbite is when the upper teeth stick out farther than your lower teeth. An underbite is when the lower front teeth in your lower jaw stick out past the teeth in your upper jaw. An open bite is when the top and bottom teeth do not connect when you bite down. A crossbite is when some or all teeth in your upper jaw fit inside the lower teeth. Overcrowding is when your teeth have insufficient space, so they become pushed together. A misplaced midline bite is when the center of your upper front teeth doesn’t align with the center of your lower teeth.
If any of those sound like you, keep reading to find out how Mack Orthodontics can help fix your bite!
What’s the big deal if you have a bad bite?
Before we get into how we can fix your bite, we want to first revisit our opening statement, where we claim that your bite is vital to your quality of life. Unfortunately, a misaligned bite can negatively impact your day-to-day life. The following are just some examples of the consequences of a bad bite.
- Difficulty chewing, which increases your risk of vitamin deficiency, choking, and digestive issues
- Trouble breathing caused by narrow air passageways and can lead to sleep apnea, snoring, and mouth breathing
- Dry mouth
- Migraines and neck pain
- TMJ (jaw joint) pain caused by abnormal pressure
- Difficulty performing oral hygiene
- Issues communicating due to pain or speech impediment
- A bad bite can influence facial structure development in growing children
- Bad breath
- Abnormal wear and tear on the teeth from friction and grinding that can lead to weakened enamel and tooth chipping
- Increased risk of tooth decay, tooth sensitivity, gum disease, and other oral health problems
- Increased risk of mental issues such as anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem
- And more!
Most of these issues will worsen over time, becoming more expensive and time-consuming to fix, so we recommend starting your treatment sooner rather than later!
How can a bad bite be treated?
Some bites require surgery, but luckily, most can be treated with the non-invasive options we provide at Mack Orthodontics. Let’s look at some of our treatment options.
Metal Braces
This treatment option has been around for a long time for a good reason! Its durability allows it to treat even the most complex of cases. The metal brackets are bonded to the teeth. The wire is attached to the brackets using ligatures and applies pressure to the teeth to allow movement. Metal braces are usually the go-to if you require additional orthodontic appliances, like the Herbst appliance or orthodontic bands. This treatment option is great for patients of all ages who need teeth or jaw (or both) alignments.
Invisalign
If you have a mild to medium bite adjustment need and desire a little more flexibility and subtleness in your treatment option, consider Invisalign! Invisalign is the leading in-office clear aligner brand, and Mack Orthodontics is proud to offer it to our community.
Clear aligners are removable transparent trays that straighten the teeth over time by applying pressure. Due to their transparency, most people won’t even know you are wearing them! The trays are custom-made, giving you a snug and comfortable fit. Like braces, Invisalign does have some accessories that can be used in addition to their trays to provide you with better results, but the aligners can not handle as much tension as braces, which is why we recommend them for patients with milder needs.
Invisalign has treatment programs for children, teens, and adults.
Clear Braces
If you prefer or need braces over aligners but are not in love with the aesthetic of metal braces, we also offer clear braces. Their only difference from metal braces is their brackets. Instead of stainless steel, clear braces use brackets made of a ceramic mix. The ceramic blend gives them a tooth-colored appearance for the illusion of clear braces.
Clear braces have all the benefits of metal braces, except they are a little more fragile, so you should expect to spend more time in them than in metal braces to fix the same issues. We recommend this option for adults and older teenagers.
InBrace Lingual Braces
This bonded treatment option provides minimal disruption to a patient’s life. InBrace Hidden Braces are glued behind the teeth, so no one will know you are in treatment unless you tell them!
The wire used by InBrace is not the same used in metal or clear braces. InBrace uses SmartWire technology which is pre-programmed with your teeth’s movement path. The wire eliminates the need for tightening appointments, so you will spend less time in our office and more time doing what you want! The wire’s unique “S” shape also allows you to eat, drink, and perform oral hygiene as if you were not in treatment!
These braces are perfect for almost all teeth adjustments.
Two-Phase Treatment
In order to find and treat bite problems early (when they are their easiest and usually least expensive to fix), children should see an orthodontist, like our very own Dr. Mack, by the age of seven.
Two-Phase Treatment is a treatment plan that is suggested for most children needing orthodontic care. Two-Phase Treatment is for preventative care (to stop a problem from developing), interceptive care (to stop an already developing problem), and developmental guidance (giving the jaw and teeth direction and assistance as your child grows), not for cosmetic purposes.
Mack Orthodontics has everything necessary to fix your bite!
No matter your type of bad bite or the symptoms it is causing you, Mack Orthodontics can help you improve your quality of life through your smile!
To receive your bite assessment, schedule your free in-person or virtual consultation with us today! At this appointment, we will thoroughly examine your teeth and jaw alignments and facial structure. Then, we will discuss treatment options with you and answer your questions.
We can’t wait to meet you and your family, so contact us soon!