Can an Extreme Overbite Be Corrected Quickly with a Cosmetic Smile Makeover?

Question

How often do people come in for a fix to their overbite problem, hoping that a smile maker will be quick and easy solution, but end up with will a full mouth reconstruction to realign the jaw instead?

Scott Young, DDS · Answer

Completing smile makeovers quickly on a patient with a severe overbite is usually not going to happen without having a compromised result. With severe overbites the treatment usually consist of 1-2 phases of orthodontics and potentially even jaw surgery. Surgery is needed when the overbite is caused by a deficient mandible (lower jaw) or a rather large maxilla (upper jaw). It would only be recommended if it were the only choice to give you the desired result. Porcelain veneers are wonderful restorations that are used to treat many dental problems, but not severe overbites. Once you have gone through treatment to correct the overbite, then you would be a great candidate for the smile makeover that you are hoping for. Good luck.

Bernard Ian Krupp, DDS · Answer

An overbite is a skeletal issue that treated properly should be corrected as a team approach by a board certified Orthodontist and a board certified Maxillofacial Surgeon who has lots of experience doing this type of surgery. There are many dentists who call themselves "Cosmetic Dentists" but there is no speciality in dentistry like this and no training programs but many would attempt to camouflage the skeletal deformity by full mouth reconstruction. In the end it is simpler and better to treat the actual problem, not create new ones!

Clark L. Jones, DDS, MSD · Answer

Extreme overbite is not usually able to be corrected by a cosmetic smile makeover. Many of these problems are underlying skeletal structural issues but you should talk to an orthodontist and see what he can advise you. I have been able to to correct "overbites" which we orthodontists refer to as "protrusions" of up to 15 mm without jaw surgery by using upper bicuspid extractions and temporary anchorage devices (T.A.D.s also called mini implants). These are fairly new mostly in the last 5 to 7 years and have expanded our ability to avoid jaw surgery in some severe "overbite" cases. This would not work if the protrusion was caused by a deficient lower jaw. The most important aspect of your treatment sounds like the overall plan for what the facial appearance and profile is going to look like when the treatment is finished. That has to be planned first and then decide where to move the teeth and/or jaws to get the profile and facial appearance that you want. Ask your orthodontist to show you records and photographs of similar cases that he personally has treated and what procedures were used to do the treatment. Most orthodontists take very good photographs before and after treatment and detailed x-ray records so he should have some available. (see examples below) It also sounds like your case is difficult enough that he will have a very clear memory of any similar cases that he has treated. If they can't show you similar cases you might want to keep looking until you find an orthodontist who can show you someone with your type problem nicely corrected to a result that you would be happy with. If your question referred to a full mouth reconstruction using crowns I would recommend getting some more opinions on that from both cosmetic dentists and orthodontists. Always ask to see similar treated cases and make sure you like them.

James Merrett, DDS · Answer

I think the answer to this question is what is your definition of a Cosmetic Smile Makeover?? And what is your definition of quickly?? It is of my opinion that if you include surgery or orthodontics in your definition of Cosmetic Smile Makeover, then the answer is "Yes". Many times an extreme overbite is a skeletal issue. It could either be an overdeveloped Maxilla (upper Jaw), or an underdeveloped mandible (lower jaw), or even a combination of both. If you are saying that a Cosmetic Smile Makeover is just recontouring, veneering, and or bonding then my answer is "No!"

Victoria Veytsman, DDS - Account Suspended · Answer

A mild overbite can be improved with porcelain restorations like veneers/crowns. An extreme overbite is likely the result of a skeletal issue and would require orthographic surgery/orthodontics. Consult with the appropriate specialists before making any decisions.

Thomas Connelly, DDS - Account Suspended · Answer

The answer is maybe.  
It depends on:
1. how severe the overbite is
2.what's the current condition of the teeth and 
3. CAN we achieve a dramatic, desirable end result while still functioning properly.
I have corrected MANY overbites and underbites successfully with beautiful results.  The key is doing a very thorough mock treatment on stone models of your teeth/jaws before we determine if it's even possible.  I actually DO the procedure on the stone models and make veneers/crowns of wax.  This is extremely valuable information to help you and I make the right decision.

Daniel Melnick, DDS (retired) · Answer

Extreme overbites are symptomatic of orthopedic misalignments of the jaws.  It can often be associated with recurrent headaches and pain in the jaw joints.  Whether the goal is cosmetic improvement or headache and pain elimination, the proper way to resolve this issue is not to perform a cosmetic makeover.  That would be the same as painting a house that is falling down due to a faulty foundation.  The best way to solve this problem is to correctly diagnose the misalignment and proceed with a treatment plan that addresses the skeletal alignment between the upper and lower jaws before attempting to correct the cosmetic deficiency.  These types of cases take time.

Can an Extreme Overbite Be Corrected Quickly with a Cosmetic Smile Makeover?

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