Overbites are one of the most common orthodontic problems. Do you have misaligned upper front teeth that protrude over the lower teeth? Thanks to the Carriere Distalizer, you’ll no longer need to wear bulky headgear to correct this issue. This orthodontic device is designed to treat the alignment of the back teeth first, before the use of braces to fix the front teeth. It is one of the revolutionary treatments offered at M. Scott Runnels Orthodontics in Destin, FL.
How the Carriere Distalizer Works
Pushing the teeth back in their correct place is one of the primary goals of any orthodontic treatment. To achieve this, we use a Carriere Distalizer, which is an orthodontic device specially designed to correct a bite. It is a curved metal bar that is attached to the teeth, with one end bonded to the canine and the other bonded to a molar.
Once it has been installed, we will advise you to use elastics to generate a force strong enough to properly move your teeth. The device is typically worn for three to five months. After the initial phase, we will place the clear aligners or metal braces that will complete your treatment.
How Is It Installed?
First, we need to create an anchor point that is usually made with the use of mini-screws. It can either be a full mandibular fixed appliance or a passive lingual arch. Next, we will attach an arm of the device to the upper teeth on each side of your upper jaw. This will completely bond the device and help maintain its desired position against your teeth.
Once the device is secured in place, we will attach an elastic band to your molars. We will be connecting your lower back jaw to the upper bar. Keep in mind that this elastic band must be worn as frequently as possible, which means you may only remove them for meals or brushing and flossing. Once your teeth have shifted to our desired position, we will remove the arms of the Carriere Distalizer. We continue your treatment using clear aligners or metal braces.
What Does the Carriere Distalizer Do?
The main function of the device is to align your back teeth first before the front teeth are corrected. By doing this in the initial phase of your treatment, we’ll be able to ensure the teeth are all properly aligned by the end of the treatment. You can enjoy many benefits from using this device, which works to make your treatment much more effective and comfortable.
Prevents the Removal of Any Permanent Teeth
Sometimes, permanent teeth may need to be removed as part of the treatment. It is usually done to eliminate overcrowding when the jaw is too narrow to accommodate the size of your teeth. The four first premolars are often the choice for extraction, followed by the maxillary premolars.
By using a Carriere Distalizer to correct your overbite, we can prevent the removal of any permanent teeth to treat overcrowding. We can make your treatment last for a shorter period since we will not need to move teeth to fill some gaps. As dental care providers, we’d like to prevent the removal of any healthy teeth and work towards preserving them instead.
Corrects Your Overbite
It is not easy to treat an overbite. Using metal braces, treatment time can take anywhere from six months to two years. Overbites can worsen with age if not given urgent attention. It may also affect your facial shape and create the appearance of sunken cheeks and an undefined jaw.
By using an orthodontic device, we can guide your teeth back to their correct positions. The treatment will help to eliminate severe overbites for good. The next phases of your orthodontic treatment will also become more effective and efficient.
Shortens the Length of Your Treatment
During the first phase of your treatment, the Carriere Distalizer ensures a faster and more effective way to move the teeth. We use it for getting a headstart in your orthodontic care. In effect, the overall timeframe for the course of the treatment is reduced. By wearing the device first, you’ll be wearing metal braces for a shorter time period. You’ll feel more comfortable and get your winning smile in no time.
By wearing your elastics together with the device consistently, you’ll notice that your upper teeth feel loose. Tiny spaces between your upper front teeth will open to make room for the desired movement. When we move to the next phase of treatment, which might involve aligners or metal braces, there will already be an excellent foundation to achieve our desired results.
Why Do You Need to Correct an Overbite?
Overbites are not just a cosmetic issue. Without early treatment and the right dental care, it can make cleaning your teeth and gums difficult. It may also deepen if teeth are worn down. Do you think you have an overbite that requires dental attention? We highly recommend that you seek urgent care as early as possible before your overbite causes pain in teeth and jaws, along with headaches.
Improve the Appearance of Your Smile
Some people with overbites have a hard time smiling confidently and tend to avoid showing their front teeth. It is not uncommon for this orthodontic problem to affect not just your facial structure, but also your self-esteem and confidence. Some people feel that because of their overbite, they appear to have an undefined jaw or sunken cheeks. Sometimes, it can make people appear grumpy even when they’re feeling perfectly fine!
Prevent Gum Damage
Incorrect brushing and poor dental hygiene often result in gum damage. When there is a build-up of plaque, you might suffer from dental problems like bleeding gums and toothaches. Plaque is a sticky film of bacteria that can harden over time. But did you know that overbites can also cause gum damage? When the upper front teeth strike against the gum line of the lower front teeth, you’re more prone to experiencing gum recession and damage.
Receding gums do not grow back, but treatments (such as correcting your overbite) can stop it from getting worse. We recommend that you seek orthodontic treatment before experiencing this issue.
Avoid Tooth Wear and Damage
Your teeth can lose their structure and suffer from wear and damage. Wearing out your teeth can be painful, unattractive, and impair proper functioning. Without fixing an overbite, your teeth may become damaged or worn out over time. When your upper and lower teeth do not align properly, they may be in frequent contact that can result in loss of structure. You’ll notice some parts of your teeth might look thin or fractured off.
Relieve Jaw Pain and Headaches
Uncorrected overbites can also cause you to suffer from jaw pain and even headaches. Are you wondering why there is sometimes an occasional pain in your jaw muscles? Misaligned teeth can interfere with how your jaw is aligned, which may lead to problems such as pain and headaches. Without correcting your bite, the vertical overlap between your upper and lower front teeth may become more severe and cause even worse problems.
Speak and Chew Better
Fixing overbites can also help you speak and chew better. If your upper and lower teeth are not aligned properly, you may experience inefficiencies when it comes to chewing your food or articulating certain words. Have you noticed that some people with an overbite tend to speak with prominent use of their tongue? This difficulty in speech is a consequence of the way the teeth in the mouth are aligned. Most of the time, it has nothing to do with a person’s speech abilities.
One of the benefits of seeking urgent orthodontic treatment is to help you avoid a lisp. The right alignment of teeth will help you speak more clearly and confidently. If you have a severe overbite, it is not unlikely for you to develop speaking and chewing difficulties in the future.
Is the Carriere Distalizer Right for You?
If you have a mild to moderate case of an overbite, this device can be used to speed up and make your treatment more effective. It is perfect for those who are looking to use a simple, discreet device. If you would like to minimize your dental health issues and you can take care of your teeth, it may just be right for you.
What to Expect During the Treatment
The device is worn for about six months up to less than a year. At first, you’ll need to get used to it, but it’ll feel normal for you in about a week. The length of this treatment phase depends on how well your teeth shift, and how severe your overbite is before the treatment.
We will also need you to wear your elastics regularly, as prescribed, for the device to work as intended. It’s the best way to avoid any delays, so we can start the next phase of your treatment as soon as possible. During the course of your treatment, we’ll advise you to brush and floss your teeth like you normally would. There will be no additional cleaning instructions needed, but you’ll need to focus more on your canine teeth, molars, and anchors.
Healthy Habits You Must Take Note Of
The Carriere Distalizer works best when you are taking proper care of it and following our advice. We recommend some healthy habits for you to master to make sure that the device works the way we intended to.
Some of these good habits include:
- Wearing the elastics and retainer for a minimum of 20 hours a day
- Avoid wearing the elastics without your retainer
- Replace your elastics after every meal
- Avoid eating hard and sticky foods
Why Stick to These Habits?
Without properly wearing your elastics and retainer, you may not achieve ideal results. It can postpone the next phase of treatment, which involves the use of metal braces of aligners. Lower teeth may also suffer adverse effects if you fail to use your retainer as prescribed. And by eating the right types of food, you can prevent the device from breaking.
In general, orthodontic treatments do not happen in a breeze. It requires teamwork between you and your dentist. We know that it takes commitment and effort, but the reward at the end will surely be worth it!
Make Your Smile More Beautiful
For many of us, perfectly aligned teeth and a beautiful smile don’t come naturally. But it doesn’t mean that we can’t make a difference! You deserve to love your smile and be confident about your appearance. With modern orthodontics, your treatment doesn’t need to be uncomfortable or unbearable. Contact M. Scott Runnels Orthodontics in Destin, FL today and schedule your consultation. We can’t wait to see you with a more beautiful, gorgeous smile that’ll make you proud and happy.
