Overjet teeth & The best ways to treat it

March 25, 2025

Overjet & The best ways to treat it

Do you suffer from overjet? Are you looking for the best treatment for this common problem?

That problem can cause you embarrassment and a loss of self-confidence, which can lead to hiding your smile and avoiding social situations.

So, if you want to know more about this problem, its causes, and methods of treatment, follow me in this article.

Overjet (buck teeth) are a type of malocclusion in which the upper front teeth protrude more than 2 millimeters from the lower front teeth.

Buck teeth can affect a person’s appearance and oral aesthetics. It can also cause difficulties in:

Chewing.
Drinking.
Biting.
Speaking.

In severe cases, it can cause severe jaw pain.

You can treat buck teeth with braces, but you may need jaw surgery if you have severe protrusion (8 to 10 millimeters or more).

What causes overjet?

Many factors can contribute to this problem, such as: –

Genetic factors: –

The likelihood of developing this problem increases if one of the parents or siblings suffers from overjet.

Incomplete growth of the lower jaw: –

If your lower jaw is incompletely developed or weak, it can lead to the upper teeth protruding more than they should.

Tongue thrust: –

Pressing your tongue against the back of your upper teeth when swallowing can cause buck teeth.

Finger sucking: –

Some children may tend to suck their fingers to calm themselves, but after the age of four, this can lead to the problem of buck teeth.

Pacifier use: –

Using a pacifier can lead to this problem.

Symptoms of overjet

Symptoms of buck teeth vary from one person to another, due to the degree of protrusion, and include the following: –

Speech problems.
Difficulty and pain in chewing or biting.
Pain in the jaw.
Headache.
Facial pain.
Sleep problems.
The unsightly appearance of the face.
Inability to close your lips completely.
The appearance of painful ulcers on your tongue or cheek.

Overjet vs overbite

Although overjet and overbite are both malocclusions, they are not the same thing.

An overbite, or deep bite, refers to the vertical distance and occurs when your upper front teeth cover more than 30% of your lower front teeth.

While an overjet refers to the horizontal distance and occurs when your upper front teeth protrude more than 2 millimeters from your lower front teeth.

Both problems are associated with pain, discomfort, and sleep apnea.

Diagnosis of overjet

Dentists diagnose this problem by visually examining your teeth to measure the horizontal gap between your upper and lower front teeth.

The doctor may also need to take X-rays to assess the effects of this protrusion on the health of your teeth and gums and to determine the severity of the protrusion.

Can aligners fix an overjet ?

Clear aligners are an effective treatment for correcting overjet and achieving the best results within several months.

Based on a comprehensive assessment of your teeth, your doctor will design a series of clear aligners that will help treat this problem.

The aligner will help you apply gentle and controlled forces to gradually move your teeth into their correct position. As treatment progresses, your teeth will come closer to their ideal alignment, and your protruding teeth will decrease.

Advantages of clear aligners: –

Invisible: –

Clear aligners are almost invisible, so you can treat buck teeth without drawing attention to your smile.

Easy to remove: –

You can easily remove the clear aligners during the following: –

Eating.
Brushing and flossing.
Drinking.

This way you can keep your mouth and teeth clean, and eat all your favorite foods.

Short treatment period: –

Clear aligners can provide you with a shorter treatment period than other braces, as they can achieve the best results within several months.

Promote oral health: –

Clear aligners can help you treat overjet, thus reducing the risk of tooth decay and gum disease.

Overjet treatment

If you are looking for a treatment for buck teeth, here are the following options: –

Orthodontics: –

Orthodontics is the most common treatment for this problem, and it helps to slowly move your teeth into their correct position.

The duration of correcting protruding teeth varies from person to person, depending on the severity of the protrusion, but it usually ranges from 18 to 24 months.

Veneers: –

Veneers are thin pieces of porcelain and are fixed to the front surface of the teeth.

Veneers can help treat this problem and give you a more attractive smile within a few weeks.

Crown: –

A crown is an artificial set of teeth specially designed to cover the entire surface of the teeth. It can typically last between 5 and 15 years.

Dental bonding: –

The dentist uses a composite resin to change the size and shape of your teeth, which helps make your protruding teeth less noticeable.

Surgery: –

If you have severely protruding teeth, your doctor may recommend jaw surgery to correct their alignment.

Preventing overjet

The risk of developing overjet in children can be reduced by: –

Avoid thumb sucking.
Reducing the use of a pacifier.
Avoid prolonged bottle feeding.
Maintain regular dental checkups.

Frequently asked questions about overjet

If you suffer from overjet, many questions may come to your mind, such as: –

Is an overjet easy to fix?

Yes, you can fix this problem with clear aligners, but if you have severe protrusion, you may need additional treatments or jaw surgery.

What is the best age to correct an overjet?

The best time to treat buck teeth is in early childhood, as young children’s teeth are still developing . Early treatment can help prevent other dental problems.