Crowded or misaligned teeth often overlap uncomfortably. Some overlap is normal and may not cause significant discomfort or health problems. However, severely overlapping teeth are a type of malocclusion and require appropriate orthodontic treatment.
If left untreated, overlapping teeth can lead to other serious oral health problems. Along with aesthetic problems like a crooked smile, overlapping teeth can make biting and chewing painful. There are many causes of overlapping teeth, from genetics to insufficient space in the jawbone. Knowing the cause is important as it helps determine the appropriate treatment. Let’s understand the different causes, current orthodontic treatments like braces, Invisalign veneers, and the benefits of fixing overlapping teeth.
What Are the Causes of Overlapping Teeth?
Experts often divide the causes of overlapping teeth into two categories.
1.Primary overlap due to genetics
2.Second overlap caused by habits such as thumb sucking
Other causes of overlapping teeth are as follows;
.If the mouth is too small to accommodate the teeth, this will cause crowding and displacement of the teeth. It is mostly caused by genetics.
.If the upper and lower jaws are not the same size, it may cause excessive or insufficient closure.
.Sometimes people have extra teeth, which can put excessive pressure on their front teeth, causing them to overlap.
.Missing teeth and some other unusual conditions that prevent natural teeth from erupting can cause them to overlap.
.Habits such as excessive bottle use and thumb sucking can also lead to overlapping or misaligned teeth.
.Poorly made dental restorations, including dental treatments such as fillings and crowns, are also known causes of overlapping teeth.
Oral health problems such as gingivitis or tumors in the mouth and jaw often affect the structure of the teeth, causing them to become misaligned.
.Jaw injury can also cause teeth misalignment.
.Sometimes even wisdom teeth are responsible for overlapping teeth.
What are the Related Dental Health Problems?
Overlapping anterior teeth can cause the following dental health problems in the long run if left untreated:
.Overlapped front teeth wear earlier than straight teeth.
.Irregular teeth often make even simple actions such as chewing and speaking difficult.
Jaw pain may develop along with headaches.
.It can promote teeth grinding and clenching, which can lead to further dental problems.
.Tooth cleaning becomes difficult, which can increase the incidence of caries, cavities and gum diseases.
. Possible loss of confidence due to crooked teeth. This can prevent you from speaking openly and smiling in public.
.In severe cases of overlapping teeth, the shape of the face may change causing it to appear abnormal.
Speech problems may develop.
.You may often bite your tongue and inner cheeks.
You may tend to breathe more often with your mouth rather than your nose.
What is the Treatment Applied in Overlapping Teeth?
If you are looking for solutions to correct overlapping anterior teeth or overlapping lower teeth, below are a few commonly used orthodontic treatments:
Braces: One of the most effective and oldest approaches used in the correction of overlapping anterior teeth or overlapping lower teeth. There are many different types of brackets available today. From traditional metal braces to lingual braces that are worn behind your teeth, aesthetics, price, comfort, etc. You can choose according to the criteria.
Invisalign: These plates are one of the most preferred orthodontic treatments today for the correction of crooked teeth, including overlapping teeth. Because of their multiple benefits, they are preferred over braces. It is a set of clear or plastic plaques customized to fit your teeth perfectly. They are easily removable, convenient, comfortable and almost invisible. While Invisalign braces are a bit expensive, the advantages they offer over braces make them a worthwhile investment for a perfect smile. However, they may not be ideal for fixing serious conflict cases.
Veneers: Veneers are thin molds used to cover the front of the teeth. It is custom made according to the color of your natural tooth and placed on the defective teeth by shaping as necessary. They are used to correct a number of orthodontic issues and are somewhat costly.
Bonding: Mild cases of overlapping anterior teeth or lower teeth can sometimes be corrected with bonding. A laser or drill is used by the orthodontist to reduce overlap and give proper space to problematic teeth. Teeth may weaken due to this process. Apart from these treatment options, sometimes bonding is applied to fix the overlapping teeth by changing the shape of the teeth. In this process, a hardening paste, which can be shaped as desired, is applied to the tooth.
These treatments stabilize your teeth so that the overlap does not progress further. Extreme cases of overlapping teeth may require the extraction of one or more teeth. Surgical reshaping of the chin with wires, plates and screws is another option in severe cases of overlap.
What Are the Benefits of Fixing Overlapping Teeth?
You can benefit in many ways if you can straighten overlapping teeth before they become severe. Some of these benefits are listed below:
.brushing and flossing the teeth and gums becomes easier, which helps reduce the risk of cavities and gum disease.
.Excessive wear and tear of teeth is reduced.
.Reduces the risk of damage to the teeth in the event of an accident.
.Chewing is not a problem, so the associated oral and general problems are also eliminated.
A straight smile helps strengthen your personality and as a result, your confidence in speaking and smiling in public will increase.
Although overlapping anterior teeth or lower teeth may seem like a minor condition that can leave untreated, it should not be ignored. It can have serious effects on your mouth and overall health.
