What Is An Over Bite?

A person that has an over bite have a tooth alignment that makes the top front teeth stick out further than the front teeth normally do. This also shows in the molars because the teeth are not aligned properly and the most common name for an over bite is bucktoothed.

The result of an over bite is due to the over development of the upper jaw and it can also be the under development of the lower jaw. In some cases over bites can be the result of both the over development of the top and the under development of the lower jaw. The upper arch that is overly developed is the maxilla and the lower under developed arch is called the mandible.

The over bite can occur for several reasons; the first is that it can be hereditary; it can also be caused by sucking the thumb or from tongue thrusting that makes the upper jaw form differently than the bottom jaw.

The over bite can be corrected with braces and when it is not the teeth can wear improperly. It can also cause pain in the jaw over time and pain in chewing because the jaw is not working in the proper motion.

The over bite can successfully be changed and the teeth properly aligned over time when braces are placed on the teeth. This will align the teeth taking the stress off of the jaw and it will take pressure off of the molars. At the same time it will also change the facial appearance by pulling in the teeth and pushing the chin out that was non-existent.