Have you ever had an overjet case and felt unsure of how to treat it? In many cases, it can seem a little difficult to know how to approach these before ortho starts, especially when the treatment plan needs to account for the fact that the patient is no longer growing. Nevertheless, we’ve outlined some of the main things you need to know about overjets as part of your dentist consultation service.
Should You Fix an Overjet in Non-Growing Adults?
Overjets are relatively simple to fix in growing patients, but non-growing cases can require an entirely different treatment plan. As such, it’s not necessarily easy to tackle at the outset – however, there are things you can consider to help you work out whether you should be taking on a particular overjet case and the right treatment plan.
So, what should you consider in these cases? Well, you’ll need to consider the following factors:
– Screen for OSA before attempting any cases
– Check whether the patient experiences sleep apnea
– Draw an E-Line before ortho starts; the lower lip should be at or behind the line and the upper ahead of the line
Just because a patient is asking for a particular treatment does not mean you should necessarily do it. This is especially true in cases where the requested treatment plan will compromise health.
Overall, elastics and aligners or braces generally won’t give good results in non-growing adults. Thus, it’s important to keep this in mind, as the results will often vary for adults compared to what you might expect from a mixed dentition dentist consultation.
Don’t forget that some cases may be covered by medical insurance. Make sure to check this if the patient is struggling financially. Alternatively, if the patient isn’t suitable for fixing overjets in non-growing adults, they could consider lip fillers to help fix the profile.
Get Professional Support
If you need professional support from your dentist consultation, our professional team here at Straight Smile Solutions can help. Don’t compromise; contact us today to learn more about starting an overjet treatment plan right.