What should I do if my baby's deciduous teeth are overbite?

Overbite is a dental problem that many people have, especially among babies, where it is particularly common. Overbite not only affects the child's appearance, but also causes certain harm to the child's oral and dental health. Therefore, when a child has an overbite, parents must take the child to receive orthodontic treatment in a timely manner. Below, we will introduce you to the relevant knowledge about overbite in detail!

1. What is overbite?

Underbite is a deformed tooth in which the lower jaw protrudes forward. Under normal circumstances, when the upper and lower teeth bite, the upper front teeth should bite the outside of the lower front teeth. If the opposite is true, that is, the lower front teeth bite the outside of the upper front teeth, the lower jaw protrudes forward, which is called "anterior crossbite", or commonly known as "underbite".

Tooth development is not only related to chewing and digestion functions, but also affects facial appearance. "Overbite" not only affects children's tooth development, but also affects the entire oral cavity and may even cause changes in facial appearance, so parents should pay more attention to this.

2. What are the hazards of underbite?

First of all, overbite will affect chewing function and oral health. The main symptom is that the eating time is longer than normal people. When some teeth are overbite, the cross-bite and disorder of the front teeth will also hinder the normal functional activities, and may cause abnormal wear of the teeth over time. People with overbite are also susceptible to temporomandibular joint diseases.

Secondly, an overbite will hinder the development of the jaw and affect the appearance. It manifests as insufficient development of the middle part of the face. When viewed from the side, the face is crescent-shaped, like the face of an old lady whose teeth have all fallen out. It seriously affects the patient's appearance, and some people even suffer psychological disorders as a result.

3. What to do if you have an overbite

If an overbite occurs, treatment should be started earlier because the jawbone, that is, the bone around the teeth, grows earlier than the body. The jaw develops early, so "overbite" will affect the growth and development of the entire oral cavity, face, and jaw.

Generally speaking, most of the baby's dental deformities need to be corrected after the permanent teeth have grown in. However, "underbite" cannot be treated after the permanent teeth have grown in and needs to be treated as soon as possible.

1. The treatment stage for crossbite during the deciduous dentition period is around 2-5 years old, and the best treatment age is around 4 years old. At this time, the baby's permanent teeth have not yet erupted, and the roots of the deciduous teeth have not been absorbed. During treatment, you only need to follow the doctor's guidance and use simple methods such as wearing removable braces and correcting bad oral habits. The treatment can be completed in 3-6 months.

2. This period is the period of occlusion and if crossbite occurs during the period of occlusion, the treatment should be between 6 and 12 years old, and the best treatment age should be around 9 years old. At this time, it is only a crossbite, which is relatively easy to correct. Depending on the child's underbite condition, removable or fixed appliances can be used from mild to severe, or even extraoral plastic surgery can be used to correct the teeth.

3. If the underbite is not corrected in time during the replacement dentition period, and usually needs correction in the permanent dentition period after the age of 12, more complex orthodontic appliances will be needed. The correction is difficult, time-consuming, and expensive, and the facial shape will not be significantly improved. In severe cases, orthognathic surgery must be performed for correction.