If you have buck teeth, you might be self-conscious about the appearance of your smile and wonder if anything can be done about it.
What can you do if your upper front teeth are jutting out? Why do teeth become buck? How to Get Rid of Buck Teeth Safely? Is there a way to prevent them?
What is Buck Teeth?
Buck teeth, also known as overbite or malocclusion, is a common disease in which the top and lower sets of teeth do not fit together completely. Malocclusion can lead to physical discomfort as well as stress from bullying and self-consciousness.
Many people opt to ignore their buck teeth and live with them. For example, the late rock icon Freddie Mercury preserved and loved his pronounced overbite. Others might favor cosmetic treatment for their overbite.
Others might also require therapy to prevent issues like unintentional biting that could harm other teeth, gums, or the tongue.
The presence and kind of treatment for buck teeth depend on its origin, severity, and symptoms.
Buck Teeth Causes
Buck teeth are frequently inherited. You are more prone to develop buck teeth if your parents did. Other potential causes of buck teeth include childhood practices including thumb-sucking and pacifier use.
Genetics
Some people are born with a small upper or lower jaw or an uneven jaw. Your parents, siblings, or other family members may look similar to you if you have an overbite or big front teeth because these conditions are frequently inherited.
Your front teeth’s alignment can be altered by spacing or crowding, which gives the appearance of buck teeth. The position of your front teeth can change as a result of missing teeth, which causes your remaining teeth to move over time.
On the other hand, having insufficient room for teeth might also lead to alignment problems. When you have extra teeth or impacted teeth, crowding may develop.
Crooked teeth due to thumbsucking
When your parents told you that sucking your thumb could result in buck teeth, they weren’t lying.
Non-nutritive sucking behavior (NNSB) is the term used to describe thumb-sucking, which doesn’t provide any nourishment like nursing would.
The pressure from the finger and sucking can cause the permanent teeth to erupt at an irregular angle if this behavior is continued over the age of 3 or 4 or during the time that the permanent teeth are developing.
Tongue-thrusting
When the tongue presses too far forward in the mouth, tongue-thrust happens. This typically leads to a “open bite” malocclusion, but it can also occasionally result in an overbite.
Although it is most prevalent in youngsters, the illness can persist into maturity.
Numerous factors, including poor swallowing techniques and chronically swollen tonsils or adenoids, might contribute to this condition. Stress might also contribute to it in adults. Adults occasionally prod their tongues as they sleep.
Pacifier-induced buck teeth
Another example of NNSB is sucking on a pacifier. In the same way as sucking on a thumb may, it can result in an overbite.
In comparison to finger- or thumb-sucking, pacifier use was linked to an increased risk of developing malocclusions, according to research that was published in the Journal of the American Dental Association in 2016.
Cysts and tumors in the jaw or mouth
The alignment of your teeth and the structure of your mouth and jaw can both be altered by tumors and cysts in the mouth or jaw. Your teeth will shift forward when there is a chronic swelling or growth in the upper jaw or mouth, whether it be soft tissue or bone.
Pain, lumps, and sores can also be caused by tumors and cysts in the jaw or oral cavity.
Possess alignment problems
These alignment problems can occasionally result in buck teeth, whether you have crowded teeth or impacted teeth.
Missing teeth
The development of buck teeth is influenced by missing teeth, which can cause teeth to shift throughout time.
Health Risks Caused by Buck Teeth
Depending on how severe the issue is, there are risks associated with an overbite. Here are a few typical issues that could arise:
- speech difficulties and discomfort during biting or chewing
- risk of periodontal disease rising
- bad headaches
- having jaw pain
- breath problems
- erosion of the tooth enamel
HOW TO AVOID BUCK TEETH
A specialist orthodontist may be able to check a young child, observe behaviors and early tooth position, and be able to make an accurate prognosis that the child would grow up with buck teeth. In some cases, it is feasible to prevent buck teeth. If so, early intervention preventive orthodontics may be able to avert the situation.
It is also possible to stop buck teeth if thumb or tongue pushing is the underlying reason. There are numerous methods that can be used to assist someone in quitting thumb sucking.
Get a glove for thumbsucking. However, they hinder the youngster from developing a seal around their thumb, which means they can’t obtain the same pressure when thumb sucking. These can be fashioned to seem pleasant to the child so they may appreciate wearing them.
Choose a dental appliance that prevents thumb sucking. These devices can occasionally be difficult to wear, but in cases of excessive thumbsucking where the child is significantly moving the bone and teeth, they might be the greatest option for preventing buck teeth.
Of course, there are other kinder alternatives, such as gentle reminders, sticker charts, and other types of kid-friendly incentives, to help discourage a child from sucking their teeth.
The roots and jawbones around your child’s permanent teeth may also be moving because they will have already grown inside the jawbone, which will also be moved by the thumb sucking process, even if your child is simply sucking on their baby teeth.
The following suggestions can help you maintain better dental health as part of your regular routine:
- Brush and floss your teeth at least twice a day.
- When you’re stressed or sleeping, use a nightguard.
- Use a mouthguard when participating in sports.
- Maintain your scheduled dental appointments.
How to Get Rid of Buck Teeth Safely?
Here is some method to get rid of buck teeth:
Brace
One of the most efficient and secure techniques for treating buck teeth is braces. Not just for children or teenagers, braces also function excellently for adults.
Over time, metal brackets and wires assist the teeth move into the ideal alignment. Some people may require tooth extraction if there is not enough room to reposition the teeth.
The orthodontist will take an x-ray of your teeth to determine what type of overbite condition you have and how your teeth and jaw fit together before beginning treatment with braces. To assist correct the overbite, your dentist will then place braces on the top and bottom teeth.
Your teeth are initially made straight and properly aligned by the arch wire. The jawline is then gently moved into the proper position by brace elastics. The metal brackets are covered with elastics or tiny rubber bands that are attached top-to-bottom or front-to-back. This aids in moving the jaw and teeth into their proper positions.
Dentists advise taking off the braces’ bands before eating or brushing your teeth, then putting them back on afterward. The majority of the time being spent wearing bands hastens the healing process. Be cautious about taking them out regularly since this can lead to sore teeth and jaws.
Wearing a retainer or a permanent wire to ensure the teeth stay in place is the final stage in the treatment of an overbite with braces.
The three additional forms of braces to eliminate an overbite are as follows:
- Porcelain braces
- Invisalign/clear aligners
- Ligamentous braces
Consult your local orthodontist for advice on the best course of action while searching for ways to correct an overbite or buck teeth.
How long do braces need to fix an overbite?
You might anticipate a brief course of treatment for a modest or mild overbite. The braces therapy, however, takes a long time to rectify a deep bite. In addition to having an overbite, a person may also have extra or misplaced teeth, which creates additional issues that need to be addressed.
A tooth extraction may be necessary to remove one or more overcrowdings in order to clear space and straighten the remaining teeth.
While each person’s situation is unique, severe overbites may necessitate wearing braces for at least 24 months. The patient must use a retainer to prevent tooth movement after the orthodontist removes the braces.
Invisalign
Invisalign is frequently questioned as a potential treatment for overbites. Their inquiry has a “yes” response. With a minor overbite, Invisalign can straighten teeth for adults and teenagers.
Invisalign is a brand of transparent plastic aligners that act similarly to braces.
Because Invisalign aligners are almost invisible in comparison to traditional braces, which have metal brackets and wires, adults are more likely to use them to correct an overbite or buck teeth. Although Invisalign can be more expensive, it is typically thought to be more aesthetically pleasing.
Your orthodontist will create a set of clear plastic aligners to fit your teeth during the course of the procedure. You’ll need to wear many molds before your teeth are more evenly spaced.
Overbite Surgery
Your dentist may advise wearing a palate expander if your top jaw cannot accommodate all of your teeth. The top molars are joined by this dental appliance. The expander gradually shifts the molars apart to make room between them. Finally, the teeth can readily fit into the desired places once the palate has widened sufficiently.
Tooth Extraction
Sometimes buck teeth are caused by the jaw bone being out of place, and surgery is needed to fix the smile. Adult patients who cannot widen their jaw to correct their overbite are advised to get surgery.
Children typically don’t need this because their teeth and bones are still developing and can be moved much more easily with regular braces or Invisalign aligners.
Tooth Removal
If crowding is the cause of the issue, removing a tooth is the optimal solution to address the overbite. The removal of one or more teeth makes room for the remaining teeth to realign themselves to their optimal positions. The jaw returns to its normal posture once the teeth are properly positioned.