There are situations where the vertical overlap of teeth is so great that the edges of the lower front teeth bite into the hard palate. This can
eventually result in ulceration and pain in the roof of the mouth , now or later in life. More importantly, too much overbite can hinder a healthy bite by restricting the forward growth and position of the lower jaw.
If untreated, the lower jaw and teeth are "trapped" by the back of the upper front teeth, causing more crowding and hindering bite correction.
Resolving a deep bite earlier than later can favorably affect long-term stability because growth is modified, which allows changes to be "built in" more permanently rather than working
against nature's way. One of the first things to relapse in a finished orthodontic case is the overbite. For this reason, it is one of the first important corrections to make, while growth is still occuring.
This appliance is worn full time (except eating) for 6-12 months and looks a lot like a conventional retainer. It artificially corrects the deep bite until
growth is re-directed for authentic bite changes. Sometimes, it is worn in conjunction with headgear to correct both deep bite (vertical dimension)
and overjet (horizontal dimension). It is prescribed, usually just prior to maximum growth periods, unless used in adults for reasons of aligning trapped lower front teeth with no room to align
