Our mouths are the gateway to our bodies. How we bite (and how our teeth are aligned) impacts many things, including your speech, smile, confidence, and general oral health. Having the ideal bite is everyone’s dream.
However, most people don’t understand the true definition of a perfect bite. In most cases, when someone looks into the mirror and sees that their teeth are well aligned, they might think that they have a perfect bite. But, this is not the only case.
There are several other factors that are considered when determining what an ideal bite is. This post takes you through all that you need to know about a perfect bite, including what it looks like, the benefits of getting one, and how to get it.
What Is an Ideal Bite?
A bite is basically the way your upper and lower teeth fit together. But what is a perfect bite? One way to define an ideal bite is if your upper teeth fit slightly over your lower teeth and the points of your molar grooves fit those of the opposite molars.
The middle of the top and lower teeth should be able to line up in a straight line.
There are various other ways to define an ideal bite — also known as a perfect or normal ideal teeth bite — but getting a better understanding may require you to know what it looks like.
What Does a Perfect Bite Look Like?
While not everyone is born with a perfect bite, our teeth are designed to fit together almost perfectly in very specific patterns. The best way to know what a perfect bite looks like would be to look at it from an orthodontist’s perspective.
Whenever you visit an orthodontist, they will often look at your bite from three different angles; the front, the side, and the full arch view. In contrast, we only ever look at our teeth from the front, meaning you can’t simply tell if you have a perfect bite by looking at the mirror.
Here’s what an ideal bite looks like from three different angles:
The front
The front of your teeth may be the easiest to scrutinize as you can easily do so using a mirror. In an ideal bite, the edges of the top teeth should basically follow the curves of the bottom lip. Moreover, about 90% of the bottom teeth should be visible whenever your teeth are clenched together.
A ‘deep bite’ may occur whenever your upper teeth cover too much of your bottom teeth, which often leads to tooth wear and damage.
If the upper teeth are also too long, the patient may show more gum tissue when they smile. On the other hand, if they are too short, they may not show enough enamel whenever you smile, affecting your overall aesthetics and making you have an open bite.
A crossbite occurs when the upper arch is too narrow (or too wide), so they ‘cross over’ the lower ones in either direction.
The side
Examining your bite from the side is another way to determine if you have a perfect bite. Although this may not be easy for a patient to do so themselves, an orthodontist will use their skills and special equipment to have a better side view of your teeth.
In essence, you can describe the relationship between your upper and lower sets as a set of matching gears. Your teeth should meet together like cogs in a wheel. The upper teeth should sit slightly in front of your lower teeth.
In case the lower teeth sit in front of the upper teeth, it causes a reverse or ‘under bite,’ and if the lower teeth sit too far behind the top teeth, it causes an ‘overbite.’ Get an in-depth overview of the answer to the question ‘what is an overbite?’ in our comprehensive guide.
If you’re looking for a way to resolve this issue, you may ask yourself, ‘does Invisalign work for overbite?’ Read on to get further clarity on the best treatment options.
With perfect bite teeth, the pointed ends of the top teeth fit well between two lower teeth with their backs resting gently with the fronts of the lower ones. Moreover, the edges shouldn’t bite directly with the corresponding opposite teeth.
The arch view
Although the arch view may be a little more straightforward, only an orthodontist can really translate if you have a perfect bite or not. The arch view is basically what you see when you open your mouth wide and look at the top of your lower teeth and the bottom of your upper teeth.
Ideally, each tooth should closely touch the next one, with no overlaps and significant spacing between them. There are many other factors to consider when looking at your bite from the arch view. In this case, it would be best to consult with your orthodontist.
Benefits of Obtaining An Ideal Bite
An adequately aligned dental structure isn’t just beneficial in enhancing your smile. It is also helpful in boosting your overall health, as it reduces the risk of common dental issues, such as tooth decay, gum disease, and tooth wear often brought about by the malocclusion of teeth.
Although it would be much easier to spot an imperfect bite when one is still a child or young, regardless of your age, you can still get an ideal bite.
While there are many other benefits why obtaining an ideal bite is essential, here are a few to get you started:
- Easily avoid dental problems such as tooth decay and gum diseases.
- You do not face the risk of breaking or cracking your teeth.
- An improper bite risks your tooth enamel wearing out unevenly, which you won’t face with a perfect bite.
- Ease of chewing food.
- Clearer speech.
- An improper bite might cause undue strain on your jaw joints, which can leave you having headaches. A perfect bite gives you the freedom and relief you so much desire, and you won’t feel this unnecessary pain and discomfort.
Perfect Bite Teeth Alignment Side View and Pictures
The definition of a perfect bite may differ from one person to another. The same case applies to how ‘perfect’ looks, as we were all not given the same dental structure, formula, or appearance. Furthermore, there can be variations based on your genes, age, and gender.
Are you looking for the ideal perfect bite teeth alignment images to see how yours can also be? Here are a few pictures of people (and mouth models) with a perfect ideal teeth bite for your reference:
Treatments to Get You the Ideal Bite
Regardless of your age, it is still possible to correct your bite in case you do not have the ideal bite. Correcting a bite can only be done at the orthodontic clinic, and you may not be able to do it yourself.
Once you visit the orthodontist, they will first analyze your dental structure to identify any possible flaws on the surface level. They will also use some equipment to better understand your situation, such as taking X-rays and scans.
The dental professional will also strive to identify the cause of the bad bite before structuring a possible treatment plan. This plan may involve one or more treatments. There isn’t a one-size-fits-all treatment, as it all depends on your orthodontist’s findings. For instance, if only your lower set of teeth needs working on, you will most likely start off with aligners for bottom teeth only before getting on any other treatment.
Generally, your treatment can consist of rebuilding and reshaping teeth, surgery, or other orthodontic procedures. Your orthodontist will take you through what the entire treatment will look like so that you can get mentally prepared for what to expect.
Here are some of the most common treatments you may get during your treatment for a perfect bite:
Braces have been the go-to solution for correcting teeth misalignment. It would be prudent to note that teeth straightening isn’t the same as fixing a bite. With teeth straightening, you can simply have your teeth straightened but not correct the bite. Moreover, you can easily straighten your teeth at home through DIY clear aligners.
But can Invisalign fix bite issues? In most cases, Invisalign can fix only mild bite issues. Other methods would be preferable for moderate to severe cases.
On the other hand, fixing a bite using braces requires treatment formulation, execution, and supervision from a qualified orthodontist. You can easily get perfect bite with an orthodontics treatment from an orthodontist near you.
An orthodontist may sometimes recommend tooth removal or extraction as a solution to getting a perfect bite. This is especially the case for those with overcrowding issues. By removing a tooth (or some teeth) from your mouth, you can create space for the rest of the teeth to be moved to the ideal position, helping you get an ideal bite.
Tooth repair involves a plethora of options that you can use to get a perfect bite. Most tooth repair treatments can only be done once the orthodontist approves, as they are not suitable for everyone.
For instance, capping, bonding, and reshaping can be good solutions. However, they are only recommended for those with mild misalignment. The use of crowns and veneers is also known to be a suitable option for those with mild issues and are more concerned about their aesthetics or appearance.
Other treatment options for people with a bad bite include:
- Additive and reductive Coronoplasty
- The use of dentures
- Orthodontic surgery and jaw stabilization
Most of these treatments for fixing a bite can be quite costly, but luckily, you can easily get some of the cheapest braces options online.
FAQ
There are many reasons why an ideal bite is essential, mostly surrounding the aesthetic and functional aspects. A person with a perfect bite has a better-looking smile. Moreover, you are able to avoid various dental issues, such as tooth decay and gum diseases. You may face problems with a bad bite, such as bad speech.
Although there are many ways to look at it, a perfect bite can be defined by having well aligned teeth, no overlaps, no overcrowding, and no overbites, underbites, or crossbites.
Sources
- Accuracy of acetate overlays in bite mark comparison: How accurate is an ideal bite pattern? (2017). Retrieved 16 September 2022, from http://www.scielo.org.za/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0011-85162017001000004
- Orthodontic treatment for deep bite and retroclined upper front teeth in children. (2018). Retrieved 16 September 2022, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6491166/
- Malocclusions and perceptions of attractiveness, intelligence, and personality, and behavioral intentions. (2011). Retrieved 16 September 2022, from https://www.ajodo.org/article/S0889-5406(11)00678-0/fulltext
- Global distribution of malocclusion traits: A systematic review. (2018). Retrieved 16 September 2022, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6340198/
- How Are Teeth Supposed to Rest? (2021). Retrieved 16 September 2022, from https://orthodonticsaustralia.org.au/how-are-teeth-supposed-to-rest/
- Malocclusion of teeth. (2022). Retrieved 16 September 2022, from https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/001058.htm
