Correcting an overbite or underbite can take between 2 to 3 years. More than half of that time is spent wearing braces. The other time is spent healing from invasive surgery that comes with its own complications. After all that effort, you may still use veneers and crowns to improve the look of your teeth.

Traditional Treatment for Overbites and Underbites

When you are treating an underbite or overbite the traditional way, you are required to wear braces betwee 12 to 18 months. Afterwards, you will undergo orthognatic surgery which involves moving your upper or lower jaw. To move your lower jaw so that it is aligned with your upper jaw, the jaw bone is cut and put in place with metal plates. To move the upper jaw bone, the surgeon will disconnect it from the skull and also put it in place with metal plates.

Time to Heal

This surgery requires a 3-month healing period before possibly going back for more orthodontic work to ensure the bite is in the right place. There are also some complications that may come with this surgery like permanent face numbness, nausea, and infection.

The Bite is Not the Only Issue

You may decide to opt for Invisalign instead of surgery. However, Invisalign cannot fix the bite problem unless it is a very mild one, and even then there are no guarantees.

Even if you do manage to fix your bite, you may not like the color or shape of your teeth. Correcting these things may require veneers and crowns as well as whitening.

An Alternative Remedy for Overbites and Underbites

An alternative to the traditional bite correction involves using veneers and crowns to correct the bite. Not only will it make your smile more aesthetically pleasing, but your dentist can reconstruct your bite so it is in a comfortable position. You also don’t have to go through the pain that is experienced with surgery. With this alternative, you don’t have to worry about long healing periods. It also means you don’t have to spend years working towards fixing your bite.

In order to do this procedure, your dentist will make a mold of your teeth. Once the dentist has examined the mold, he/she will make a mock up of the veneers and crowns on the mold. The dentist can then show you what your future smile will look like. It takes two weeks to do this procedure for most people. The procedure is also nearly painless.

Consultation

At West Hollywood Holistic and Cosmetic Dental Care, we can help you fix your bite. West Hollywood top rated Dentist can help with this at our clinic. Contact us for your consultation.