What Does An Ideal Bite Look Like?

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A great smile is more than simply having straight teeth. Many patients are referred to orthodontists due to a misaligned bite. At Bryan Johnson Orthodontics, we understand that a misaligned bite can lead to many other dental issues. Which is why we strive to not only provide you with a beautiful smile, but also, a healthy one. Dr. Bryan Johnson may recommend using braces or clear aligners as a necessary part of your treatment so that you can achieve a beautiful, new smile.

The Importance Of An Ideal Bite

Having an ideal bite is not only aesthetically pleasing, but also good for your oral health. By getting braces, clear aligners, or any other orthodontic treatment, you can prevent serious health issues that may become difficult to treat later on in life. Pursuing an ideal bite can help with:

  • Digestion: With properly aligned teeth you can chew your food more efficiently. This makes it easier for your body to digest your food and extract all the nutrients.
  • Speech: An ideal jaw alignment and bite helps us articulate and speak clearly.
  • Oral Health: With an ideal bite, you eliminate areas that can collect waste, bacteria, and plaque that can build up in the mouth and get trapped.
  • Stability: Once you receive orthodontic treatment and your teeth are properly aligned, you don’t have to worry about significant shifts or movement in your teeth or jaw.

To determine if you have an ideal bite or not, our Stayton & Salem orthodontist will look at your bite from several different views.

The Front View

The front view of your teeth is what you would see if you were to look directly into a mirror. At this view, you bite is considered healthy if the bottom of your upper front teeth runs parallel to the top of your lower lip when you smile. When you bite down, about ½ or ⅔ of your bottom teeth should be visible. Finally, your top row of teeth are slightly wider than the bottom ones.

The Inside View

The second view is as if you were looking directly down at your bottom or top row of teeth. From this view, you are simply checking if your teeth are in a perfect arch and are all touching without any overlapping teeth or spaces in between. Typically, the bottom row of teeth is much easier to look at than the upper row, but both rows of teeth should be the same.

The Side View

The third view is if you were looking at the sides of your teeth. This view is usually the most difficult one to see. For this, you are looking to see if your teeth align correctly with a closed bite, and that your top teeth are in front of the lower ones. The top teeth should not stick far too out or in, otherwise, you would have a severe overbite or underbite.

Schedule Your Salem, OR Orthodontist!

If you feel that you have a misaligned bite, our orthodontist and staff are more than happy to help! At Bryan Johnson Orthodontics, we strive to provide our patients with high quality orthodontic treatment at our Salem, Stayton, and Silverton, OR locations. We understand that every patient is different, so whether you’re looking for braces or clear aligners, we tailor a personalized treatment that works for you. If you have any questions or would like to make an appointment, feel free to contact us today!

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