“How long does it take to fix an overbite?”
I am a 16 year old male and I want to fix my overbite. How long does it take to fix an overbite?
11 Answers
Morning. On average between 12-18 months.
You need to consult an orthodontist.
Usually at least a year.
The whole life ahead of you. If you need to fix it, do it.
Your overbite should be treated comprehensively with other issues you may have with your bite. An overbite can stem from several different causes including a lower jaw that is positioned back relative to the upper jaw. Orthodontics records, including 2 x-rays, study models of your teeth, and photos should be taken first. Your case is then studied and a total treatment plan is presented to you. The time of treatment is established from that study. Dr. Randall Wing
It really depends on how bad the overbite is. Orthodontists think in terms of how many millimeters that they they will need to move the teeth to make the bite perfect. The average time is somewhere between 1 and 3 years, depending on any other improvements they need to make. Probably the best thing you could do is speak with your parents and have them schedule a free consultation with an orthodontist to get a more definite timeline.
Marc D. Thomas, DDS
Marc D. Thomas, DDS
Approximately 18 months.
Hello,
The amount of time it takes to fix an overbite depends on a few factors; the persons age, whether it is overbite or overjet, and how severe the overbite or overjet is.
First of all, when we are younger our jaw bones are much more accommodating to tooth movement. Our teeth move easier which means the process is quicker. As we get older it will take longer to move teeth. However, as we get older we do not need to worry about our bones changing as much and moving our teeth.
Secondly, overbite is the amount of overlap of the from teeth vertically (from top to bottom). For example, a person whose top front teeth cover all of their lower front teeth has more overbite then a person whose upper front teeth cover only half of their lower front teeth. Overjet refers to the amount of overlap in a horizontal direction (front to back). For example, if someone's front upper teeth are way out in front of their lower front teeth, they have a lot of overjet. This makes a difference because the correction of overbite and overjet is very different and someone with only a slight overbite can be corrected in a matter of months.
Finally the severity of overbite or overjet can change things a lot. Overbite is usually limited. Once the teeth overlap so much that they are contacted the gum tissues this is generally as severe as it gets. Even in this case correcting just the overbite should not take that long and once half of it has been corrected a significant improvement has been made. A severe amount of overjet can require the extraction (removal) of teeth, jaw surgery, and then braces which can take up to 2.5 years.
So a slight amount of overbite correction in someone in their early 20s would take a short amount of time. This is contrast to someone with a lot of overjet correction in someone in their mid teens or over 35 would take a lot more time.
Hope this helps.
My best to you!
William F. Scott IV, DMD
The amount of time it takes to fix an overbite depends on a few factors; the persons age, whether it is overbite or overjet, and how severe the overbite or overjet is.
First of all, when we are younger our jaw bones are much more accommodating to tooth movement. Our teeth move easier which means the process is quicker. As we get older it will take longer to move teeth. However, as we get older we do not need to worry about our bones changing as much and moving our teeth.
Secondly, overbite is the amount of overlap of the from teeth vertically (from top to bottom). For example, a person whose top front teeth cover all of their lower front teeth has more overbite then a person whose upper front teeth cover only half of their lower front teeth. Overjet refers to the amount of overlap in a horizontal direction (front to back). For example, if someone's front upper teeth are way out in front of their lower front teeth, they have a lot of overjet. This makes a difference because the correction of overbite and overjet is very different and someone with only a slight overbite can be corrected in a matter of months.
Finally the severity of overbite or overjet can change things a lot. Overbite is usually limited. Once the teeth overlap so much that they are contacted the gum tissues this is generally as severe as it gets. Even in this case correcting just the overbite should not take that long and once half of it has been corrected a significant improvement has been made. A severe amount of overjet can require the extraction (removal) of teeth, jaw surgery, and then braces which can take up to 2.5 years.
So a slight amount of overbite correction in someone in their early 20s would take a short amount of time. This is contrast to someone with a lot of overjet correction in someone in their mid teens or over 35 would take a lot more time.
Hope this helps.
My best to you!
William F. Scott IV, DMD
When you are having brace treatment following directions is important. Don't chew gum. Don't bite into bagels, apples. You cut your food up and eat with your back teeth. You should floss and brush your gumline, below your braces, on your braces and above your braces and then the flat surfaces of your teeth.
It depends on the patient but my cases normally take around 8 months to a year.
The entire treatment can range from six months to two years. I recommend seeing a dentist to see specific treatment plans.
