What is the best path to take with a really bad overbite? our seven year old daughter has a really pronounced overbite, to the point where she has trouble closing her mouth all the way at times. i've heard that there are surgeries to correct this, but mos

Correction : Correction of severe skeletal deformities that lead to misaligned teeth and poor bites usually requires a team approach involving a pediatric dentist, orthodontist, and oral and maxillofacial surgeon. Depending on the type of skeletal abnormality, a single or multiple surgeries may be required, and if multiple, they would start in the late pre-teen age range. Final surgery is usually performed after initial alignment of permanent teeth, usually about the age of 16 to 18, unless we need to wait for growth to stop, usually around the age of 21. This decision depends upon the type of surgical correction being undertaken. Once a full evaluation is completed, many of your questions can be answered more concisely.

Drs : Drs edderai and funari have given you excellent advice on how to approach this condition, and i agree with what they both wrote. As i was reading their responses and trying to visualize your daughter's occlusion, a though came to mind: did she suck her thumb for a number of years, or does she still suck her thumb? I know you did not mention anything about that, but that habit this late in her development may also be causing the bite you describe. If she is still sucking her thumb, it obviously must stop.

According : According to your description, i'm under the impression that your daughter has an open bite in the front meaning that when she closes her mouth her front teeth stay open. This is not a problem she probably has a habit of keeping her tongue out or she needs some help in the development of her maxila or jaw. There are diferent aproaches in treating or starting to correct this condition at her age, with rapid palatal and madibular expanders and finishing with braces. Remember your explanation gives room to many conditions, i haven't examined her, but your best option will be to make an appointment with a pediatric dentist who has a multidisciplinary practice and understand the best course of treatment for your daughter. Good luck.

Conservative Rx: If teeth stick out (horizontal overbite, what dentists call "over jet") they can be repositioned. If problem is also skeletal. Upper jaw too far forward or lower jaw too far back, they can be repositioned. Surgery (in combination w braces) is usually reserved for non-growing adults. See a qualified orthodontic specialist who can guide your growing child's teeth and jaws into proper alignment.