Surrey Invisalign provider discusses treating overjet

Surrey Invisalign provider discusses treating overjet

Surrey, BC - Correcting overjet - commonly referred to as "buck teeth" - is often a priority among orthodontic patients.
Child patients want to stop the ridicule they can experience, especially during those awkward adolescent years. But, there are legitimate health-related reasons for correcting overjet in early childhood, says Surrey, BC Invisalign provider Dr. Aly Kanani.
Recent research found that 75 percent of children with an overjet of 6 millimeters or more develop fractures of their front teeth by age 12 if the misalignment of the teeth went uncorrected, Kanani, a Surrey, BC braces expert, notes. Since the teeth protrude, there is a significantly greater chance of damage - or even tooth loss - if the child has a blow or injury to the face. Overjet often causes improper use of the front teeth and excessive wear. It can also be an indication that a patient's back molars are not coming together properly or that the jaw is not developing correctly. It is a class II malocclusion - or misalignment of the teeth.
The Canadian Association of Orthodontists advises that all children should be evaluated by an orthodontist by age 7 because many issues are more easily corrected when identified in their early stages, says the Surrey invialign provider. Adult front teeth are growing in around this time, so an orthodontist can look for overjet and determine the best time for treatment. Overjet can be caused by crowded teeth, thumb sucking, small lower jaws or lower jaws that are too far back.
"Many people believe that overjet and overbite are the same thing, but they aren't," explains the Surrey invisible braces expert expert.
Overjet refers to the horizontal distance between the upper and lower front teeth, while overbite describes the vertical distance between lower and upper front teeth. If thumb sucking causes the overjet, the problem can be alleviated by stopping the habit. Orthodontists can discourage thumb sucking by installing an appliance in the child's mouth that prevents the habit. If crowding causes the problem, braces can correct the issue and move teeth into their proper position.
Some patients may benefit from growth plates or functional appliances such as the Twin Block appliance that work to bring the lower jaw forward to close the space, explains Kanani, a Surrey orthodontist. It's usually good to start this type of treatment before a child begins their adolescent growth spurt, so the child's facial and skeletal growth can direct the jaw growth.
"There are some instances where I may advise starting treatment early," Kanani says. "For example, if a child's overjet is so severe that the teeth risk being broken or damaged, if the child's speech is affected, or if the child is being ridiculed at school, we may opt for earlier treatment."
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