Q.
Hi, I am female, 24 years old and I was meant to get a brace when I was 12 years old, but it never went ahead. I booked a consultation for September to find out about a Fixed brace to correct some slight overcrowding/crooked teeth (I have already had one consultation). But I am now starting to wonder if I have a problem with my jaw too. My dentist (and the Ortho at my first consultation) told me I have quite a deep overbite (not an overjet), so my top front teeth pretty much cover my lower front teeth when I bite down. I have noticed lately that when I close my bite (make my back teeth touch) I feel pressure on parts of my lower jaw (towards the back of the jaw, near the ear area). It feels as if someone is literally forcing my lower aw back further than feels comfortable. When I release my bite and part my teeth (so that my back teeth are no longer meeting/touching) the pressure is released and feels much more comfortable. I find myself keeping my teeth apart like this most of the day to avoid the discomfort that I experience in my lower jaw when I make my back teeth touch. Does this sound like something that can be fixed with fixed braces? Is it possibly due to my overbite and the fact that my top teeth tilt slightly inwards (towards the inside of my mouth) so then my lower teeth have to go further backwards to fit behind upper teeth, causing my jaw to ache by being too far back. I am finding this rather difficult to explain, hopefully I have made some sense. Kind regards,