Dr. Maddahi explains his approach to overbite correction.
Overbite or underbite correction are two of the most common problems that Dr. Maddahi's dental office sees. After years of perfecting his innovative procedures, Dr. Maddahi is confident that he has found a safe, and effective alternative to previous options for bite correction. He offers top-notch overbite and underbite correction without surgery.
Bite correction can be a time consuming and sometimes painful process. Because of this, many adults have learned to live with their alignment problems not having the time or patience for a two year correction program. Many adult patients are still unaware that there is no time limit on correcting misalignment of the bite, mistakenly thinking that correction can only be successful during the youthful growth period.
Dr. Maddahi has seen a surge in adult patients coming to him for solutions for overbite correction and underbite correction. In fact, one in five orthodontic correction patients are adults wishing to correct a lifetime of crooked or misaligned teeth. The good news for his adult patients is that the teeth can be moved at any time in life and while teeth move more readily in a child, adults can finally get the smile and performance they have wished for all of their lives.
Typically overbite or underbite correction is a process that will take between 2 and 3 years and involves 2 stages of orthodontic procedures, Orthognathic surgery, and possibly even traditional veneers and crowns to get the correct bite and look for a patient.
The candidate would first receive braces for about 12-18 months to correct the bite non-surgically as much as possible before undergoing Orthognathic surgery to move the upper or lower jaw. Depending on the case, the surgery would either move the upper jaw forward to bring it in alignment with the lower jaw, move the lower jaw backwards, or possibly both. This involves disconnecting the upper jaw from the skull or cutting the lower jaw bone and realigning them with metal plates and/or screws to keep the jaw in place.
This surgery requires a 3 month healing period before possibly going back for more orthodontic work to ensure the bite is in the right place. There is nothing wrong with going about fixing an incorrect bite this way, but it takes a lot of time, can be painful, and like any surgery, there are possible complications such as nausea, infection, and temporary or even permanent numbness of the face.
One might consider replacing the braces portion of this process with Invisalign, but Invisalign alone will not fix an overbite or underbite, and also will only really work with any success on mild cases, as it cannot be combined with the Orthognathic surgery described above.
The patient should keep in mind as well that if the shape and color of one's teeth are not ideal, straightening them, and/or correcting the bite will not handle the entire problem. There would still need to be some recontouring, reshaping, whitening, or veneers and crowns in order to get the desired look. As an alternative to this, one might consider seeking out Anti-Aging Dentistry's reconstructive procedures which use premium, hand crafted porcelain veneers and crowns to not only make the smile more aesthetic, but reconstruct the bite to be in a correct and much more comfortable position in a way that is completely innovative.
Beverly Hills cosmetic dentist Dr. Maddahi has worked on countless cases to ensure that these procedures can fix an incorrect bite without surgery, or long healing periods. This revolutionary new way of correcting overbites and underbites has saved his patients years of sometimes painful orthodontic work to give them the smile they always dreamed of having without putting a lot of metal in their mouths.
The process that determines if someone is a candidate for the Anti-Aging Dentistry solution to overbite correction or underbite correction is a quite simple one!
First Dr. Maddahi would have a mold of the potential patient's teeth made and after carefully examining the case he would work with his Master Technicians to create a temporary wax mock-up of veneers and crowns on the mold itself. If Dr. Maddahi is satisfied that based on what his team is able to fabricate he will be able to rectify the bad bite, he will move forward with the process. The patient will then be able to see exactly what their new smile will look like there in front of them.
What is bite correction?
What is an overbite?
What is an underbite?
Is there an age limit on when an overbite or underbite can be corrected?
Besides the aesthetic concerns, are there any health issues I should be aware of concerning overbite or underbite?
Will I need surgery to fix an overbite or underbite?
Is there a non-surgical option for correcting overbite or underbite?
How do I know if I am a candidate for a non-surgical approach?
Bite correction is a procedure to fix the way in which the top and bottom teeth fit together when the mouth is closed. When they do not fit together properly, it is called a “malocclusion” (mal-, from the Latin malus, meaning bad, + occlusion, from the Latin occludere, to occlude or close).
Overbite is a condition in which the teeth of the upper jaw protrude over the lip and teeth of the lower jaw. It usually refers to the upper incisors, or “canines.”
Underbite is a condition in which the teeth of the lower jaw protrude over the lip and teeth of the upper jaw. It usually refers to the lower incisors.
No, there is no age limit on when an overbite or underbite can be corrected. Overbite or underbite correction is just as effective for adults as it is for growing children.
With overbite or underbite, the pressure on different parts of the jaw is not evenly distributed. This can cause problems not only with premature failure of any given tooth but cause temporomandibular joint syndrome (TMJ). This occurs when the temporomandibular joints, which connect the lower jaw to the skull on either side of the mouth, go out of alignment. TMJ can result in jaw pain, headaches, earaches, clicking and popping, and a number of other symptoms.
Using traditional techniques, the patient typically wears braces for a period of 12 to 18 months to correct the bite as much as possible non-surgically. Depending on the severity of the case, at this point, surgery may be needed to move the upper and/or lower jaw for alignment.
Yes. Dr. Maddahi offers a revolutionary new non-surgical approach to overbite and underbite correction.
Based on a mold of your bite, Dr. Maddahi and his team of Master Technicians would create a temporary wax mock-up of crowns and veneers, fitted to the mold. If once seeing this, Dr. Maddahi feels that they can fabricate a permanent solution that will achieve the desired goals, he will move forward.
If overbite correction brings to mind the unlovely prospect of wearing head gear, do not concern yourself. Dr. Maddahi can offer several options for correcting even serious malocclusions (bite alignment problems) using cutting edge dental appliances that are discrete and comfortable. For younger patients, he has several options for correction that won’t impact social activities or cause self consciousness. He is very sensitive to the social pressures that younger patients deal with concerning appearance.
While it is easier to correct malocclusions in younger people while the jaw is still forming, adults can definitely benefit from expert overbite correction. Dr. Maddahi sees many adults who have decided to correct their malocclusion and who now are able to enjoy social activities with confidence. Adults with overbite or other alignment issues are often under the false impression that there is an age limit on overbite correction but the fact is the teeth can be realigned and the jaw can be positioned at any age.
Occlusion is used to describe alignment of the teeth on both the upper and lower jaw. Overbite is a condition where the upper teeth project over the lower teeth. Overbite is more common than underbite where the lower teeth project beyond the upper teeth.
There are health benefits to correcting overbite. Dental hygiene is easier which counters tooth decay and gum disease. Chewing food properly is also assisted when the jaws are properly aligned. This assists digestion and reduces the instances of biting the cheeks and inner lips while chewing.
Overbite, underbite, misaligned, or crooked teeth…these imperfections are usually a result of heredity. In some cases, accidents or habits such as prolonged thumb sucking or extended use of a soother past the age of three can result in an overbite. There are three classes of malocclusion.
The bite is almost normal with a slight overlap of the upper teeth.
Refers to a severe overbite with the lower jaw, or mandible, positioned behind the upper jaw.
A severe underbite where the lower jaw extends beyond the upper jaw.
Depending on the degree of correction, and whether the problem is in the upper or lower jaw, overbite correction may consist of:
The length of time for treatment will depend on the severity of the overbite and the age of the patient. If traditional braces are recommended, younger patients will wear braces for 18 months to 2 years. Adults can expect to wear braces for up to 3 years.
If that time frame is a bit daunting, there is an option that can accomplish overbite correction in far less time.
Dr. Maddahi has developed a process more attuned to his adult clients, which can replace the need for braces which drastically reduces the time needed to correct overbite. Using premium porcelain veneers and crowns to reshape the teeth, he restores balance and alignment, which not only is aesthetically pleasing, but corrects the functional defects created by overbite and misalignment. Not everyone is a candidate for his innovative anti-aging dentistry solution; the degree of correction needed is the determining factor.
To determine if this procedure will achieve the goal, Dr. Maddahi calculates the degree of misalignment and/or jaw displacement. He then makes a mold of the teeth, which enables him to create a temporary wax model of veneers and crowns on the mold. Once the mock up is complete, he is able to assess whether or not the amount of correction needed could be achieved through this method. An additional benefit of this method is that his patients can see what their smile would look like after the procedure.
Patients who are candidates for this method can expect to enjoy their new smile within a few weeks – a timeline which is very acceptable for busy professionals and entertainment executives.
If you have questions concerning overbite correction, either for yourself or a young person in your life, make an appointment to see Dr. Maddahi for an evaluation. Living with misalignment in the jaws can impact many aspects of life. Find out how Dr. Maddahi can help you with his innovative and cutting edge overbite correction methods. He will provide you with his proven recommendations so that you can make an informed decision on treatment.
