A condition that some people have (us included) is called an overbite. An overbite is when your top jaw has grown more than your lower jaw, so your top teeth hang over your bottom teeth. The result is usually what is known as having “buckteeth”.
Here are the two fixes:
1. The Faster Way: In this way you go to an orthodontic surgeon. They will break your lower jaw and then push it forward and position your jaw so that your teeth are straight and line up. Then the surgeon will insert metal pieces that fit into the space that was made by moving your jaw forward so that it permanently stays in place.
2. The Slower Way: The classic way to rid yourself of an overbite is to get head gear. With head gear, the idea is that the gears hold back your top jaw from growing so that your lower jaw can catch up. Naturally this will take longer.
The first fix is typically used for adults or people who have stopped growing, since head gear requires that your lower jaw is still actually growing. Similarly head gear is used mainly for kids and teenagers, if they haven’t stopped growing.
Our opinion on fixing an overbite:
Both of us have done and completed the head gear fix. Though it takes quite a bit longer and is kind of a drag to wear, the results are definitely noticeable and worth it. This method has been around for decades (chances are your parents even had headgear!) and has stood the test of time. But it is not reasonable if you have stopped growing, which is when the fast surgical way would be a better choice. But for kids we recommend the head gear, since the whole breaking-the-jaw part is generally probably not a good idea in kids who are still growing.
-Amanda and Erik
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