What is a Deep Bite?

People who are looking for orthodontic treatment seldom talk about deep bite or overbite as their concern. Most of the time, they are concerned about crowded or crooked teeth. Many people are surprised when the Orthodontist in Houston asks them to open their bite or level the lower arch.

Deep Bite

A deep bite is a malocclusion in which the upper front teeth overlap the bottom front teeth when the back teeth are closed. This is also known as closed bite or overbite. A deep bite may not be a matter of concern aesthetically for the patient, its presence indicates other underlying issues which should be addressed, says Orthodontist in Houston, TX.

Causes of a Deep Bite

One of the common causes of the deep bite is a small lower jaw. When you have a lower jaw shorter than the upper jaw, the upper teeth are forward and lower teeth continue growing till they hit back of the upper teeth or roof of the mouth. As the lower front teeth grow under the top ones, they get squeezed which creates alignment issues.

Another cause of deep bite can be a missing lower tooth. It can be exactly like having a short lower jaw. Lastly, strong biting muscles that lead to clenching or grinding can deepen the bite.

Why do you need to fix the Deep Bite?

• If you have over-erupted lower front teeth, they can wear down quickly. Patients clenching or grinding the lower teeth against cingulate of upper teeth experience excessive wear which can result in the loss of tooth structure.
• If you bite into the roof of the mouth, painful sores can develop. This can make normal eating uncomfortable.
• If you lose a significant amount of tooth structure, the orthodontist in 77098 will recreate the space for restoration by moving upper and lower teeth apart.

How Does an Orthodontist Correct a Deep Bite?

The upper and lower front teeth are moved up in the supporting bone or the side and back teeth are elongated which helps in opening up the bite. The qualified orthodontist will know when to use which method.