"About Your Smile" Archive

Same Teeth Different Face

Reproduced from the About Your Smile Series More Articles
Previously appearing in The Rome News-Tribune
by S. Jeffrey Crews, D.M.D.

Same Teeth Different Face

By Jeffrey Crews, D.M.D.

While some malocclusions (bad bites) are not readily apparent when looking at a closed mouth, a deep bite usually reveals itself by its effect on facial appearance. This bite problem is characterized by upper front teeth that may completely overlap and hide the lower teeth. Severe deep bites can become painful as well as harmful as the lower teeth gradually bite deeper and deeper into the soft tissues behind the upper front teeth. A deep bite may result from the compete or partial loss of the back teeth. Unfavorable jaw growth can have the same effect with a full set of teeth. One result is a reduction in the length of the face, usually considered to be a sign of aging, because of its association with tooth loss. In the event that a young person displays a deep bite, it may well have the effect of prematurely aging his or her visage. Orthodontic treatment provides a means of correcting a deep bite and lending the face a more youthful appearance. Most orthodontic treatment begins with a shoòt consultation during which the orthodontist inspects the bite condition and discusses possible treatments. Before treatment begins, plaster models of the teeth, head and jaw x-rays, diagnostic photos, and a medical-dental history are obtained and studied. Your orthodontist will design a personalized treatment plan and will be prepared to explain the plan and answer your questions Special financial arrangements are usually available to cover treatment costs. You may schedule an orthodontic exam for yourself, or another you care about, by calling 291-2901. P.S. - A deep bite may be made worse by tooth wear due to bruxism, (compulsive or unconscious tooth grinding).

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Same Teeth Different Face