It can be harder to treat an overbite in adults because the jawbone and tooth roots are more firmly developed. Bear in mind in most cases, the younger the correction takes place, the better. Perhaps you are considering the treatment options for getting rid of an overbite in your child, and are wondering whether it's worth putting them through it all. Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders.Untreated, overbite problems can include: There are a range of reasons why it’s a good idea to fix an overbite. The video below gives a brief visual explanation of these different dental problems: In the case of a very severe overbite, the upper jaw may completely cover the lower teeth and even dig into the lower gum.Īn overbite can be both horizontal and vertical, meaning the top teeth protrude at the front and hang too far down over the lower front teeth. A deep overbite, also known as a deep bite, occurs when the teeth overlap by 4-6mm or more. When the vertical overlap is 2-4mm, or around 30% of the lower teeth is covered, this is considered normal. An overjet may occur along with an open bite, meaning there is a vertical gap between the upper and lower teeth. When very pronounced, you might hear this called ‘buck teeth', but we will refrain from using that term here. The definition of an overbite is the vertical overlap or horizontal gap between your top and bottom front teeth.Ī horizontal overbite, also called an ‘overjet', causes the upper teeth to protrude at the front of the mouth. 5.4 Can I get overbite correction in the UK on the NHS?.5.2 Does Invisalign fix deep bites and overjets?.5.1 How can you get rid of an overbite?.