What if your front teeth keep wearing away? A case of orthodontic treatment for a deep bite

Hello.

I am Dr. Son Su-min, an orthodontic specialist who has been practicing at Guardians Dental Myeongdong for 20 years.

My front teeth seem to be wearing down quickly, and it hurts when I chew food with my front teeth

When I examine the front teeth of patients who complain about this at the Myeongdong orthodontic consultation room, I often find that the ends of the upper and lower front teeth are flat and in contact with each other.

In a normal bite, the upper front teeth should slightly overlap the lower front teeth, but this patient's upper and lower front teeth were in contact with each other at the ends.

This is called an "edge-to-edge bite" in dentistry.

Photos of the patient at the time of visit

As can be seen in the photos, the ends of the upper and lower front teeth are in contact with each other.

This is a characteristic feature of an edge-to-edge bite.

Additionally, a subtle gap was observed between the upper and lower teeth, indicating an open bite.

Let's take a closer look at the patient's tooth condition.

Why orthodontic treatment was needed

Edge-to-edge bite

The front teeth play a role not only in cutting food but also in guiding the jaw to move forward or sideways.

In an edge-to-edge bite, the force can be concentrated on the ends of the front teeth, which may lead to wear or chipping of the teeth.

However, various factors such as teeth grinding, clenching, and chewing habits can also affect tooth wear and jaw joint symptoms.

The goal of edge-to-edge bite orthodontic treatment is to restore normal guidance and protect the teeth and jaw joint in the long term.

Open bite

An open bite can influence and be influenced by tongue habits, creating a vicious cycle.

If an open bite is present, it can be difficult to cut food with the front teeth or may cause discomfort with speech and swallowing.

As the front teeth do not come into contact with each other, some patients may experience wear and jaw joint strain on their molars over time.

Therefore, open bite orthodontic treatment is not just about closing the gap between the front teeth, but also about improving the function of cutting food with the front teeth, speech, and the relationship between the upper and lower teeth to protect the teeth and jaw joint in the long term.

Important Factors in Orthodontic Treatment at Myeongdong

By adjusting the position of the teeth to restore a normal overbite relationship between the upper and lower front teeth, the traumatic bite that occurs during mastication can be reduced.

In this patient's case, based on the results of a thorough examination, the angle and position of the upper and lower front teeth were adjusted step by step.

Through this, treatment was carried out to make the upper front teeth properly cover and bite the lower front teeth.

Deep bite is not just a problem with tooth arrangement, but often involves an imbalance in the growth of the upper and lower jaws.

While some cases can be improved with tooth movement alone, cases with significant skeletal differences require consideration of both tooth movement and the direction of jaw growth.

For this reason, it is essential to analyze the growth of the jawbone and the state of tooth arrangement for each patient and create an individualized treatment plan accordingly.

Appearance after Orthodontic Treatment

After treatment, the open bite and deep bite were improved, forming a stable bite where the front teeth bite naturally.

Additionally, after treatment, the biting relationship of the front teeth was improved, and the tooth arrangement became more even.

The patient in this case was able to complete treatment with results that considered both function and aesthetics.

In Conclusion

In cases like this patient, where deep bite and open bite occur together, it is not just a matter of correcting the position of a few front teeth, but rather a complex issue involving skeletal factors and tooth arrangement.

In such cases, what is most important is an 'orthodontic plan' based on accurate diagnosis.

---

The way an orthodontic plan is created can greatly affect the choice of device, treatment period, and direction of improvement, so it is essential to create an individualized plan tailored to each patient's condition.

If you are experiencing complex problems such as deep bite or open bite and are looking for orthodontic treatment at Myeongdong, we recommend that you consult with an orthodontic specialist to receive a thorough explanation of your current tooth arrangement and skeletal condition.

Please carefully consider the treatment method, expected period, range of improvement, and potential side effects before making a decision.

• From Dr. Soo-min Son - ▼ Preview of Guardians Dental Myeongdong ▼

▼ Inquiries ▼

NAutomatically translated from the Korean post on our Naver blog. Read the original ↗