If your teeth are perfectly straight but you have an overbite that bothers you, you should see an orthodontist no matter how old you are. Having a great smile and one that you can be confident about is important at any age.

The dentist may have some options for your treatment that are different than traditional metal wire possibilities, and that can help you fix your overbite discretely. Talk with an orthodontist in your local area about these things.

Clear Tray Treatment

Instead of metal and wire, clear trays can be used to repair your overbite. These are worn like mouthpieces but are composed of thin clear plastic, so they aren't easily seen by others. You wear them throughout the day while you talk, work, exercise, and go on with your daily activities.

These have a lot of benefits as opposed to old fashioned wire metal braces. Some of these benefits include:

• They can be removed while eating
• Teeth can be flossed and brushed as needed
• Regular dental treatments can easily be performed
• Food or debris doesn't get stuck
• Wires won't poke or possibly break
• They can be less painful than traditional braces

If you think these trays may be the better option for you, and you don't want to be an adult walking around with brackets and wires, talk with an orthodontist to see if this is a possibility for treatment. This may have a different cost than the traditional braces, so you will have to decide what you want to pay to get the overbite corrected with a discrete treatment method.

Time for Treatment

Find out how long it's going to take to correct the overbite that you have. The severity of the overbite and the current alignment of your teeth may factor into the treatment time. How quickly the jaw moves will also determine this outcome. Throughout the process, new trays will be made, and adjustments may take place to make sure that the jaw is moving properly and as needed.

An overbite isn't just a cosmetic concern, but it also may be causing pain in the jaw, teeth to grind, and other problems. Talk with an orthodontist to find out if you are able to get the problem fixed with clear plastic trays or if the problem needs other corrective treatment. Call your oral health insurance provider to see what types of treatments are covered and what you will have to pay out of pocket.