My overbite is coming back - do I need braces again, a specialised retainer, or surgery? (photos)

Question

From around the age of 13-17 I had braces, which helped with my overbite. I have been wearing a retainer at night since, and am now 22. Over the past few months I have felt changes occur and my over-bite has definitely worsened, I feel that my jaw is becoming noticeably more crooked. I am also aware of how this has impacted my speech slightly, having developed a minor lisp and struggling to pronounce words as clearly as I might have done before. My mouth basically feels like it is shifting...

John McDonald, DMD · Answer

Noticeable bite changes such as the ones you are describing can come from several different causes.  Tongue thrusts or bite shifting after dental work or trauma are two common ones.  Less common causes are changes to the jaw structure from clenching or grinding or possibly arthritic changes in the jaw joint.  Cases like yours are not unheard of, but not common.  Find an orthodontist with at least 15 years of experience so you know he or she will probably have some experience with several of these type of cases.

My overbite is coming back - do I need braces again, a specialised retainer, or surgery? (photos)

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