Class II Overjet - “Buck Teeth”
Overjet is also known as protrusion. In this case, the lower teeth are too far behind the upper front teeth. This can be caused by an improper alignment of the molars (Class II Relationship), a skeletal imbalance of the upper and lower jaw; flared upper incisors, missing lower teeth or a combination of all the above. In addition, oral habits such as thumb sucking, finger sucking or tongue thrusting can exacerbate the condition.
Overjet should be corrected because it can:
- make your smile less attractive
- double the chances of front teeth trauma/fractures
- prevent proper functioning of the front teeth
- lead to premature wear
How can overjet be orthodontically corrected?
Overjet can be corrected through growth modification using a functional appliance and fixed appliances with elastics to reduce the skeletal imbalance with or without extraction of teeth.
|