Porcelain veneers are a popular way to repair teeth that are stained, cracked, or broken. But are they best for teeth with an overbite? What is an overbite, and would veneers help fix an overbite?
Beavers & Broomfield Family Dentistry offers dental veneers as part of our restorative dental services. Some of our patients do require treatment before getting veneers. Does that include treatment for an overbite? Let’s start by learning the basics of an overbite and veneers!
What Is an Overbite?
An overbite is when the upper teeth sit further forward of the lower teeth than usual. A normal bite has some slight overlap of the upper teeth over the lower teeth. An overbite has a larger space between the teeth.
What Causes an Overbite?
An overbite can have several causes. One of the most common is thumbsucking or pacifier use during early childhood. We recommend your child breaks these habits by the age of 2. Beyond that, these habits can deform the mouth and cause an overbite.
An overbite can also result from overdeveloped bite muscles or a smaller lower jaw. Even basic genetics can cause an overbite. If both parents have one, there is a chance the child will have one, too.
What Are Veneers?
Veneers are thin shells placed on the front of the tooth to give it a cleaner, newer appearance. A small amount of tooth enamel is shaved off the front of the tooth to make room for the veneer. Then, the veneer is bonded to the tooth. The result is a beautiful new smile!
Veneers are tooth colored and designed to cover up discoloration, breaks, or cracks in teeth. They don’t repair other underlying issues like tooth decay or gum disease. Can veneers fix an overbite? No, they also don’t correct an overbite.
Beavers & Broomfield Family Dentistry recommends you get treatment for your overbite before you get veneers.
How Do I Fix My Overbite Before Veneers?
An overbite can be fixed with braces or clear aligners treatment options. Beavers & Broomfield Family Dentistry can treat your mild overbite with clear aligners. These acrylic aligners are custom-molded to your teeth. They use gentle pressure to move the teeth until they are in their proper places.
More severe cases may require repair with surgery or braces treatment. We recommend you use an orthodontist in these extreme cases.
Will you be able to use clear aligners? We can let you know! We’ll give you a complete examination when you schedule your first appointment with us. We can determine whether clear aligners will work for you or whether you will need braces or even surgery.
Can I Get Veneers After an Overbite?
After overbite correction, you can still get veneers. In fact, it will be much easier to get veneers once your orthodontic treatment is done. That’s because your teeth will be straight and in the proper position, making it easier to place the veneers on the front of the teeth.
You may need dental implants if your teeth are too damaged to hold the veneers. First, we must extract the damaged tooth. A dental implant involves placing a metal “root” in your jaw, then screwing in the new, false tooth.
Beavers & Broomfield Family Dentistry can provide dental implants if needed before placing your veneers on the other teeth. We can match your dental implants and veneers, creating an amazing new smile!
What If I Don’t Fix My Overbite?
What happens if you don’t fix an overbite? It can worsen over time if bad habits are to blame and not stopped, particularly in children. Even genetic-related ones need to be fixed as soon as possible.
An overbite means your teeth are out of proper alignment. Over time, this can cause excessive tooth wear, headaches, jaw pain, and other issues. If your teeth are crooked as well, it can make them more challenging to brush and floss. This can lead to more tooth decay and gum disease.
Treating your overbite as soon as possible before you get veneers, dental implants, or other restorative dentistry is important.
How Long Will It Take to Treat My Overbite?
Treatment times vary from patient to patient, depending on the severity of the overbite. It also depends on the type of treatment and whether you will need pre-treatment before your braces or clear aligners.
If your child was sucking their thumb beyond two years, they may need a device such as a tongue crib to stop the habit. The tongue crib will also train the tongue to sit back from the teeth so they won’t press their tongue against their teeth once they’re moved back.
If your teeth lack space to move into their correct places, you may need a palate expander to widen the jaw. This device widens the jaw using steady pressure.
Both of these may be worn for several months before treatment. Then, your orthodontic treatment can begin.
On average, braces are worn 12-24 months and clear aligners 9-15 months, though times vary from patient to patient. During your initial consultation, we will let you know how long your treatment will take after we’ve completed your exam. That’s when we will present you with a treatment plan that will improve your oral health.
Once your treatment is complete, we can apply veneers. This process usually takes a couple of sessions, but you can enjoy your new veneers for years once they’re on!
Getting Veneers in Fayetteville, AR
Veneers are a great option for those who want to restore their smile. They can cover the cracks and blemishes on your teeth and give you the beautiful smile you’ve missed. While veneers won’t treat an overbite, they will do a great job after you treat your overbite, giving you the smile you want.
If you’re ready for overbite treatment or veneers in Fayetteville, Arkansas, schedule an appointment with Beavers & Broomfield Family Dentistry. Let us show you how amazing your smile can look!
