8 Reasons Proper Bite Alignment Is Important for the Aesthetics of Your Smile

Do you have proper bite alignment

Achieving proper bite alignment has multiple positive benefits. 

The right bite alignment is an integral element in achieving a healthy smile. But bite alignment is more than your ability to bite and chew your food. The proper alignment of your teeth affects your speech, facial aesthetics, and even the longevity of your teeth. Failure to correct a misaligned bite can lead to various long-term health issues. Read on to better understand how proper bite alignment is important for the overall aesthetics of your smile.

What is proper bite alignment?

Let’s start by getting on the same page about what proper bite alignment is in the first place. When your bite is in alignment, the pointed ends of your incisors should fit perfectly between the two teeth on the bottom. Further, the back of your upper teeth should rest gently against the front of the lower ones. Many people mistakenly think the sharp edges of their teeth should rest against one another, but the truth is those top teeth should fit slightly in front of the bottom tooth, and your molars should come into contact.

The best way to understand how an optimal bite looks is to do an online search for what does a proper bite look like, and then take a look at the images. Although, most patients with a misaligned bite typically know their bite isn’t right. Some signs and symptoms indicate you may have a bite alignment issue.

  • Frequent headaches
  • Twisted, overcrowded, or crooked teeth
  • Grinding or clenching your teeth when sleeping
  • Experiencing jaw pain or discomfort regularly
  • Loose or failing dental work
  • Uneven wear and tear on your teeth
  • Tooth sensitivity

Why is proper bite alignment so important?

Your bite alignment is important for multiple reasons, but you may not realize that it affects the aesthetics of your smile. Since having an aligned bite makes proper oral care easier, you’re less likely to experience tooth decay and gum disease (all of which impact the beauty of your smile). But that’s not all that a misaligned bite impacts.

  1. Additional wear and tear on the teeth can cause chips, tiny cracks, and worn teeth
  2. Difficulty speaking
  3. Difficulty chewing, which can lead to digestive issues (and increase the risk of choking)
  4. Difficulty brushing your teeth because it is harder to get into the little gaps and grooves caused by crooked or misaligned teeth
  5. Clenching and grinding your teeth at night (bruxism)
  6. Poor sleep, either due to jaw pain or bruxism
  7. Poor aesthetic facial symmetry (in a symmetrical face, the left and right sides of the face will be reasonably similar to one another, but no perfect mirror images). An asymmetrical face is often due to jaw misalignment, tooth loss, etc. 
  8. Midline discrepancy—the center of the two upper front teeth and two lower front teeth do not match or align

Correcting Bite Misalignment 

The good news is you don’t have to live with a misaligned bite. And the bad news? Well, there isn’t any. Dr. Desai and the team at Luminous Smiles in Newport Beach can help you with your bite alignment issues but can help set you on a path to better oral health. Check out some ways we can help remove your bite misalignment discomfort.

Braces or Invisalign

Though traditional metal braces might be necessary for severe misalignment, Invisalign clear aligners are highly effective in treating mild-to-moderate misalignment. Treatment times may vary, but patients can expect a gradual improvement over the course of 12 to 18 months.

Jaw surgery

In severe cases, we may refer you to an oral and maxillofacial surgeon who can perform jaw surgery to set your path to proper alignment. This type of surgery takes place in the hospital and requires a two- to four-day stay.

Veneers

If you are not experiencing jaw pain and simply need an aesthetic improvement to your bite (due to a slight overbite), veneers may be a great solution. Veneers are a permanent solution and are adhered to the front of your front teeth to create a more symmetrical appearance. Not only do veneers create a more aligned appearance, but they help cover up unsightly stains, making them an excellent choice for celebrities and public figures.

Tooth Replacement for the Back Teeth

If you have an overbite due to missing or damaged rear teeth, we recommend a tooth replacement option to fill the gap. The longer you leave a gap due to missing teeth, the more the other teeth in your mouth can shift, causing other issues. Dental implants, a bridge, or dentures can help fill in the gap and provide a more comfortable bite.

Luminous Smiles can help you achieve a better bite alignment.

If you are feeling pain and discomfort due to a poor bite, you don’t have to suffer any further. Request an appointment with Luminous Smiles in Newport Beach today, and let us help you find the right treatment plan. We all deserve a great, aesthetically-pleasing smile we can share with others.

Posted in

drdesai