Can braces fix my gaps and overbite without harming my jaw?

Question

Hello doctor,

I am almost 19 years old, and my teeth are not very good, but not very bad either. There have been visible gaps between my upper teeth since childhood. My lower teeth have stayed behind my upper teeth.

I have trained myself to bring my lower jaw forward because when I was around 11 years old, I noticed that it made my face look better. But when I am not consciously moving it forward, my jaw goes back to its natural position under the upper teeth.

Can this be treated with braces like an overbite? And if yes, will it affect the forward growth of the maxilla? I want to know if correcting the overbite with springs or rubber bands will make my maxilla look recessed.

Please help.

Thank you.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

It sounds like you are concerned about the appearance of your teeth and bite, and that is completely understandable. These issues can affect both confidence and comfort. Braces or clear aligners can help with these problems, even at 19 years of age. They can close the gaps between your teeth and guide your bite into a healthier position so you do not have to keep pushing your lower jaw forward. This habit is sometimes called a Sunday bite (a bite that looks normal only when you purposely move your jaw forward).

Orthodontic treatment (treatment that uses braces or aligners to move teeth into better positions) at your age mainly focuses on moving the teeth. It does not significantly change jaw growth, so you do not need to worry about your upper jaw, also called the maxilla (the upper jaw bone), being pushed backwards or becoming recessed.

The most important step is to visit an orthodontist for a full evaluation. This includes taking records such as X-rays, photographs, and models of your teeth. They will examine whether your bite problem is mainly because of tooth position or because of the jaw structure itself.

After the assessment, they can recommend the best treatment plan. This may include braces with elastics (small rubber bands used to guide teeth and jaws into better alignment) or, in more complex cases, jaw surgery (a surgical procedure to correct severe jaw alignment problems).

Treatment usually improves the smile and also makes chewing and speaking more comfortable. It is normal to feel anxious about how treatment might affect your appearance, but correcting an overbite generally improves overall facial balance.

You are taking a positive step by asking these questions, and with proper professional guidance, you will get a clear plan for your treatment.

I hope this helps you.

Kindly revert if there are any queries.

Thank you.