TL;DR:
- Overbite (backbite): Upper jaw extends over lower teeth, altering facial features. Causes include bone development issues, harmful habits (thumb sucking, pacifier use), and genetics. It leads to speech defects, indigestion, and headaches if untreated.
- Types of Overbite: Partial, pseudoglossus, total, and retrogenia (skeletal malocclusion).
- Forebite (anterior overbite): Lower dental arch protrudes forward. Causes include genetics, teeth grinding, long-term pacifier/thumb sucking, improper sleeping posture, mouth breathing, or conditions like Down syndrome.
- Treatment: Early intervention (age 5–10) is crucial. Options include braces (fixed/removable), clear trays, or surgery for severe cases. Exercises improve outcomes.
- Importance of Treatment: Prevents tooth decay, periodontal disease, facial aging, and temporomandibular pain.
Among the most common malocclusions are tarsal bite and overbite. Both phenomena can develop already in childhood. That's why it's so important to regularly check and review the dentition. Both backbite and forebite are associated with the occurrence of harmful habits and disorders in the development of bone structure. What are both conditions and what are their causes? Find out how to cure backbite and forebite.
What is an overbite and how does it manifest itself?
** An overbite is a misalignment of the upper jaw, which extends unnaturally in front of the line of the lower teeth. This phenomenon is most often diagnosed in children after the age of 7, and its development is sometimes influenced by milk teeth. In the main, however, the formation of backbite is associated with abnormal bone development and the possession of habits that are harmful to the teeth. In children, backward bite is additionally manifested by the occurrence of changes in facial features. The labial-chin furrow is clearly deepened, and the chin is retracted. The presence of backbite also affects the unusual positioning of the mouth and the way of smiling. The persistent defect leads to a change in the profile of the face, the occurrence of problems with biting and grinding food, improper work of the facial muscles and the pulling of the lower lip under the upper teeth. Ankylosis in adults is most often a consequence of ignoring this condition in childhood. If left untreated, it also often causes indigestion (improperly grinding food), slurred speech and speech defects, as well as the occurrence of migraine-like headaches.
Causes of the formation of backbite?
Improper bone development is not the only cause of the formation of backbite. It can also appear as a result of vitamin D deficiency, improper feeding position of the baby during infancy or improper positioning during sleep. The development of backbite is also often influenced by too much pacifier use and finger sucking, early loss of the lower deciduous incisors, and inappropriate tongue position, which often occurs with the child's mouth open for long periods of time. Unfortunately, backbite also has a genetic basis. It can appear in people with abnormal bone development due to hereditary tendencies. Pathological cervical lordosis is also a common cause of posterior tigris. In order to assess the risk of backward bite and prevent its development, it is worthwhile to consult an orthodontist when the child is 7-8 years old, which is when milk teeth are usually replaced by permanent teeth.
Backbite – types
Ankylosis is a condition that takes different forms. We can distinguish between:
- partial backbite which consists of protrusion of the upper lip and the lower part, which is the result of abnormal development of the jaw in relation to the skull,
- pseudoglossus – retraction of the front lower teeth,
- total tibia which is a complete retraction of the lower teeth arch,
- retrogenia, or morphological adiposity. This is the most advanced form of backbite. It is a malocclusion of a skeletal nature, which causes changes in the structure of the mandible and inhibition of its forward growth. It sometimes follows damage to the temporomandibular joint or falls on the chin.
What is an anterior overbite and what are its types?
Foreboding is the so-called anterior flaw consisting of a forward protrusion of the entire lower dental arch or part of it. In the first situation it is a complete forebite, and in the second – a partial forebite. There is also a distinction between this type of pseudo-phenomenon, which occurs when there has been an inhibition of the maxillary anterior growth. At that time, the impression can be given that the lower dental arch is excessively protruded, despite the fact that it is developing normally. By extending the chin forward and smoothing the labial-chin furrow as a result, the appearance changes. The profile becomes concave and the face appears to have a more severe expression. People with a forward bite have difficulty biting and grinding food, pronouncing words clearly, and breathing.
Causes of forebite
Among the most common causes of forebite are genetic predisposition, but not only. The defect can develop as a result of frequent teeth grinding, use of a pacifier after the age of 3, or thumb sucking. Bottle-feeding for too long, continuing even after infancy, pressing the teeth with the tongue through the push-up reflex, but also improperly arranging the child for sleep also contribute to its formation. Children whose head is placed too high are particularly prone to forebite in this regard. In such a position, the lower jaw and tongue are extended unnaturally forward. Foreboding can also be caused by other comorbidities, such as Down syndrome, achondroplasia, Apert syndrome, Crouzon syndrome, cleft palate or the quite common tonsillar hypertrophy. Breathing through the mouth can also lead to an anterior overbite, as can various types of trauma sustained in the first years of life and too early prolapse of deciduous incisor teeth.
How to cure backbite and forebite?
In order to correctly diagnose and cure an underbite and an anterior overbite, an orthodontist is necessary. Based on the consultation, detailed history, visual inspection, but also on the age of the patient and the severity of the condition, the right treatment and therapy is selected. X-rays and special impression models are also crucial in determining the treatment plan. Ankylosis and anterior overbite are defects in which time is very important for treatment. If the diagnosis and therapeutic measures are taken early, it is possible to completely correct the disadvantage in the least invasive way and without the risk of complications such as periodontal disease or temporomandibular joint disorders. By undertaking treatment at the age of 5-10, it is also most often possible to avoid advanced measures in the form of surgery performed as part of maxillofacial surgery. In young people it is much easier to carry out such correction. This is a time of intense changes occurring in skeletal structures, which are much more amenable to correction than in adults. It is also much easier to prevent permanent habits associated with, for example, slurred speech.
Backbite – treatment methods
In the treatment of backbite, fixed or removable braces are most often used. With it, it is possible to expand the lower dental arch and correct the upper jaw at the same time. Removable models are most often used for children and are recommended to be worn overnight. In the case of fixed braces, treatment usually lasts up to two years, during which the patient is under constant observation by an orthodontist. An aesthetic and convenient alternative to traditional braces are modern clear trays created on the basis of the individual patient's case. Such a solution allows to slightly shorten the treatment time and requires fewer visits to the specialist. Replacement of the overlays takes place at home, which is done by the patient himself. The most advanced defects of the backbite, on the other hand, are treated surgically under general anesthesia.
Anterior bite – how to cure it?
For children, the most common form of treatment of an overbite is the use of removable braces. What is important then is the consistency and regularity of wearing such an accessory, as recommended by the orthodontist. In addition to braces, one should also perform exercises that affect the treatment process. They involve, among other things, regular retraction of the mandible to its proper position, which increases the effectiveness of therapy. In adults or adolescents with fully formed permanent dentition, braces are usually used, or special trays individually developed on the basis of digital scanning of the entire mouth. This solution is much more comfortable and basically invisible, since the overlays are colorless. This solution does not require giving up hard foods, and hygiene maintenance is definitely easier than with braces. Treatment of anterior overbite is sometimes also done surgically. However, this applies to very advanced and extreme cases.
Why does backbite and forebite need to be treated?
Untreated malocclusions such as backbite and forebite contribute not only to a less attractive appearance. Lack of intervention by a specialist can lead to much faster tartar buildup and the development of tooth decay, resulting in bothersome periodontitis. In addition, teeth become fractured, abraded and crumbled much faster. There is also a so-called lowering of the height of the compact, as a result of which the face looks much older. Anterior overbite and anterior overbite can also be accompanied by severe temporomandibular pain.
Conclusion
Correcting backbite and forebite is crucial for health and confidence. These conditions impact facial structure, speech, and chewing, and when left untreated, can lead to chronic issues like jaw pain, decay, or digestion problems. Early intervention with braces or trays, especially in children, makes treatment easier and more effective. For severe cases, surgery may be necessary. Regular checkups with an orthodontist and addressing harmful habits early can prevent complications. Remember, timely action improves both function and appearance, ensuring long-term oral health and quality of life.
