It is also known as occlusal overlap or shared space. This is an effective way of aligning teeth for certain dental procedures, especially when space is limited.
Types of Dental Horizontal Overlap
Dental horizontal overlap can be performed with braces and orthodontics, or on its own. Bonding and capping are different types of dental horizontal overlap that are often used alongside braces or orthodontics.
- – Bonding overlaps teeth without changing the shape of the teeth. Since there is no repositioning of the teeth, the bonded area may appear slightly higher or lower than the adjacent teeth.
- – Capping overlaps teeth without changing their size. It does not change the shape of the teeth and therefore, does not affect bite strength.
How Dental Horizontal Overlap Works
Bonding uses the same materials, adhesives, and finishing techniques as your braces. With bonding, a thin layer of dental cement is applied to the teeth. Dental cement is really a mixture of resin, water, and other ingredients. When it is applied to teeth, dental cement hardens into a protective, waterproof coating that connects teeth. After the dental cement has been set, a small but strong wire is wrapped around the teeth, and around the wire are small clamps. The wire is then tightened around the teeth, connecting all of them in a strong, durable bond. The process of bonding is similar to the process of orthodontics, with the only difference being that the braces are the teeth instead of the teeth are the braces.
What Is Horizontal Dental XCP?
Horizontal dental XCP is another type of dental horizontal overlap that comes in two forms: horizontal with rotation, and horizontal with translation. With horizontal dental XCP with rotation, teeth are moved in the horizontal direction without changing the vertical position of the teeth. This is done to improve the form of the teeth. With this form of dental horizontal overlap, the total amount of space between the teeth remains the same, so the teeth will not be crowded closer together. With horizontal dental XCP with translation, one tooth is moved horizontally and then another tooth is moved to fill the space left behind. This is used to move the teeth horizontally to improve their form or to close gaps between teeth.
Advantages of Dental Horizontal Overlap
- – Ease of Application This type of dental alignment is easy to perform, as there is no need to reposition any teeth during the process.
- – No Additional Equipment or Time Necessary This type of dental alignment can be done at the dental office or at home. There is no need to bring in any special equipment or hire any dental technicians.
- – Less Invasive Than Orthodontics This type of dental alignment generally takes less time than orthodontic treatment. Horizontal dental overlap is less invasive than orthodontic treatment because it does not involve repositioning teeth.
- – Quick Turnaround Among orthodontic treatments that last 6-8 months, dental horizontal overlap treatments take only a few days. And if done in a dental office, patients may be able to return to their normal daily activities within a few days.
Disadvantages of Dental Horizontal Overlap
- – Partial Coverage Dental horizontal overlap does not completely cover the tooth surfaces. This means that certain areas of the teeth are not covered by the dental overlay. The area that is not covered by the overlay may be stained or discolored.
- – Can Be Expensive Compared to other types of fixed orthodontic treatment, the dental horizontal overlap is expensive. It is recommended that a patient cover a significant amount of the treatment cost.
- – Can Be Painful If a patient has sensitive teeth, dental horizontal overlap can be very painful.
Which Teeth Can Benefit from Dental Horizontal Overlap?
For patients with overcrowded teeth, horizontal dental can be a good choice. It can also be used to correct an underbite, crossbite, or open bite. For patients who wear dentures. It is a good choice as it does not require changing the dentures. For patients who have missing or damaged teeth. Dental horizontal overlap can save a tooth as a root can be used for this purpose. For patients who want to avoid extractions, dental horizontal overlap can be used to save a tooth. For patients who have sensitive teeth, dental horizontal overlap can be used to protect sensitive teeth.
Conclusion
Dental horizontal overlap is a type of fixed orthodontic treatment that uses a dental overlay to attach teeth in a horizontal position. It is designed to correct crowded teeth, narrow gaps between teeth, or move teeth horizontally. This procedure is quick, easy, and inexpensive. Dentists and dental technicians often perform dental horizontal overlap. Dental horizontal overlap is one of the less invasive orthodontic treatments. It is well suited for correction of misalignment, narrow gaps between teeth, or moving teeth horizontally.