Buck teeth is a condition wherein a person’s upper and/or lower teeth are protruding. Besides affecting the person’s appearance, these protruding teeth could also adversely affect the complete closure of lips. Besides being a matter of cosmetic concern, it can also lead to other problems. These problems include an increased susceptibility to trauma to these teeth (due to their vulnerable exposed position), development of habits like mouth breathing and lip biting, inability to eat and chew properly, etc. Given below are the various options that are available to fix buck teeth.
One of the best options for fixing buck teeth is orthodontic treatment. Orthodontic treatment involves the use of braces to correct and bring back teeth into a desired position in the oral cavity. In this procedure, metal brackets are placed onto the teeth. These brackets are connected to each other with the help of wires. When these wires are pulled, the force tends to move the affected teeth, and push them into a desired position in the dental arch. For those who are not willing to wear braces, there are other options. For instance, the use of composite brackets that blend in with teeth could work in such cases.
Also, one could opt for Invisalign for buck teeth correction. In invisalign braces, plastic clear removable aligners are used for aligning the teeth. These removable aligners are to be worn for fixed periods of time (generally ranging from two to three weeks), before they are replaced by a slightly tighter set of aligners. Their biggest advantage is that they can be removed while eating and cleaning teeth. However, if you really want to fix buck teeth, invisalign braces are to be worn for a longer duration.
Concerned individuals who have work profiles that require them to interact constantly with people (air hostesses, receptionists, television anchors, etc.) can opt for lingual braces. These are regular metal braces, but these are placed on the lingual (inner) surface of teeth. Thus, these cannot be seen by others. However, extra care needs to be taken in case of lingual braces. Maintaining dental hygiene is very essential, or else one may end up with multiple cavities in the mouth.
At times, the teeth appear to be protruded due to a protruding maxilla (the upper jaw). In such cases, orthodontic braces will not be of much help. Even if the teeth are pushed back by the braces, they will still seem to protrude out. Thus, there is need for surgical intervention in such cases. At times, the lower jaw (mandible) is placed far back in comparison to the upper jaw. This could give the impression of protruding upper teeth. Both these conditions can be treated with the help of simple orthognathic surgeries.
On a concluding note, the issue of protruding teeth or jaw should be addressed at an early age. An individual who has protruding teeth is at a higher risk of trauma or tooth loss due to accidents. Moreover, such individuals could also face problems while talking or eating. So, parents should consult a dentist or dental surgeon, if their child has buck teeth.
