Non-Surgical Treatment to Correct Overbites & Underbites

Many adults, teens and children have an overbite or underbite, and there are a variety of ways to treat these teeth and jaw issues. Malocclusions such as these can lead to changes in your facial shape, TMJ pain and your overall health.

There are several ways to treat these issues and with todays advanced care and methodology surgery is not often indicated.  It is essential to find why these bad bites have developed.  Many times mouthbreathing, airway issues such as tonsillar blockage or enlarged turbinates contribute to bad bites, even sleep apnea or snoring can also cause problems.  Believe it or not, these overbites, underbites very often lead to postural problems and neck pain. Another causative factor is poor tongue posture or aberrant swallow patterns. 

Over, under and cross bites are sometimes treated with orthodontics such as metal braces or Invisalign® clear braces. However, if the cause of the bad bite is not corrected relapse can occur. Prior to any treatment, whether orthodontic care, restorative care, or Fixed Anterior Growth Appliances, it is essential to address the airway, posture, breathing, as well as tongue posture.

 Other traditional options include jaw surgery, which involves physically altering your jawbone to correct your bite, but you will likely still need braces to finish the process.  However, it is rarely needed as other non-surgically approaches are less invasive and more predictable. Our office does offer non-surgical correction of underbites and overbites.
The non-surgical method Dr. Konig offers utilizes various steps depending on the case, to provide optimal function and aesthetic results:

1. Bite management treatment—Bite management or reversible bite treatment helps find the correct physiologic bite for your teeth, jaw and face.
2. Physiologic restorative dentistry—The relationship between your bite, jaw joint, neck, and bone is symbiotic. Dr. Konig can identify the issues and address any neuromuscular problems through TMJ treatment or restorative dentistry.
3. Porcelain veneers, onlays, and crowns are treatment options for patients who don’t want to undergo lengthy orthodontics or surgery.  Many times these can be done very conservatively without having to grind down much tooth structure.  Whether Emax porcelain and other type of porcelain restorations advanced techniques can be used to correct these malocclusions. Empress Porcelain or Lumineers® are another porcelain that can also be used with non-surgical options.  It is really not the porcelain, but rather finding the correct physiologic position for health and function.  There are many porcelains that can be created thin and esthetically. 

If you’re suffering from a misaligned bite, please contact our dentist in Houston today at (713) 668-2289 to discuss your bite correction options. Ronald W. Konig, DDS, FAGD, LVIF, FIACA serves patients in Houston, Katy, Sugar Land, The Woodlands and surrounding areas of Texas.